《When the plot-skips players into the game world》


 Chapter 1: 1 Are you here to arrest me?

    "Yes, hello... I am Inspector Hayna who made an appointment yesterday... to investigate the assault case involving Mr. Aiwass Moriarty."


    A youngdy, about in her early twenties, wearing a blue and white uniform, stood nervously and helplessly in front of the grand entrance of a manor, holding her wide-brimmed hat.


    Her chestnut-colored curly hair was tied into a ponytail at the back, and her high nose bridge. Panic about messing something up filled herke-blue eyes.


    "...I''m sorry, the division''s Supervisory Bureau had ast-minute inspector meeting... Another warehousebustion incident urred in the White Queen District yesterday, and traces of me Spirits were detected at the scene, suspected involvement of a Demon Schr¡ªI think it might be the same fugitive who attacked Mr. Aiwass the day before yesterday!"


    As Hayna spoke, her voice grew quieter and quieter: "So, that''s why..."


    "¡ªSo, you took it upon yourself to attend that inspector meeting, which you were not actually required to attend, and you arete... by two hours and twenty-three minutes?"


    An old and grave voice resonated from the other side of the iron gate. It carried the long, drawn-out tones peculiar to the Elven ent of the people of the Royal Capital.


    He snapped his gem-studded pocket watch shut and tucked it back into his chest, staring sternly at Hayna.


    Standing opposite Hayna was an old, thin, and tall elf wearing a butler''s uniform.


    The wrinkles on his face could remind one of tree bark, and his dark green pupils were closer to those of a wolf than to the waters of ake.


    The old elf seemed to be nearly two meters tall, and his posture with his hands sped behind him was like a phantom of a withered tree under the moonlight. His pine-straight, motionless spine emanated an intense aura of oppression at this moment.


    Although Hayna was actually an intern inspector, not yet graduated, she had passed her final assessment prematurely and could be knighted by the queen at any time. She was currently wearing the intern badge only because her assigned Gryphon was still en route.


    Normally, she shouldn''t be so afraid of a butler.


    But this old man was different.


    Because this aged Elf Butler was her mentor.


    Though he followed an ancient covenant, serving the Moriarty family as a butler since the inception of the state... at the same time, he was also a former Grand Inspector who retired eighty years ago.


    "¡ªI assumed you would be eventer, Miss Hayna."


    The old butler, with his hands behind his back, spoke with that Elvish ent that always imparted a slight sense of arrogance to Hayna: "Mr. Aiwass was attacked by a Demon Schr two days ago and remained unconscious untilst night. But upon hearing that the Supervisory Bureau wasing to ask some questions, he very cooperatively gave up going to the ss Step Sanatorium. After taking some medicine, he dragged his weak body to the firece and waited for you for two hours, while I also waited for you at the gate for two hours.


    "Now it is almost dark, and if you were anyter, you might as well simply postpone until tomorrow; since it''s already postponed until tomorrow, I don''t think a week''s worth of recuperation is urgent. ording to the rules of the Supervisory Bureau, a case that has been signed off on must yield a result within a week¡ª given Miss Hayna''smendable conduct that allowed her to graduate early, you must be able to find that Demon Schr smoothly.


    "Since you have already apprehended the criminal, why trouble my poor Mr. Aiwass? You might as well return, I will exin to Mr. Kent."


    Mr. Kent is the Director of the Supervisory Bureau in the White Queen District. Even after Hayna bes a full-fledged inspector, Kent would still outrank her by three levels.


    If the old butler''s tone hadn''t been so sarcastic, she would have taken to her heels right this moment and dumped this troublesome matter onto her superiors. But the problem is, she''s actually still a senior student.


    Despite being able to call the wind and summon the rain at school, she hasn''t graduated yet.


    She didn''t have enough social experience to discern whether the old man was seriously making such a suggestion or just mocking her. But her intuition told her that if the old man had not intended to do so, and she foolishly ran away now, she would indeed be bringing disaster upon herself.


    "...I''m truly sorry."


    Thus, Hayna could only bow her head in apology first, "I will also apologize to Mr. Aiwass."


    In any case, she had already scheduled a meeting time in advance but didn''t say a word before being sote... She indeed was at fault to begin with.


    She looked at the iron gate that separated her from the old man, and her thoughts began to drift unconsciously.


    The ck openwork iron gate was only decorated with low-profile thorn patterns... It didn''t look like it belonged to a prestigious family.


    In fact, Professor Moriarty¡ªnamely, the foster father of Aiwass Moriarty, who was involved in this incident, could indeed be described as a low-key, stable, wise, and learned good man. Professor Moriarty was also Hayna''s teacher in university, responsible for the subjects of astrology, astronomy, and advanced mathematics.


    Having inherited the Moriarty Commerce Association, with three museums to his name, even the sole Astronomical Museum in the White Queen District was built with his funding. Despite being so wealthy, he quietly pursued academia at the university. He even sponsored many orphanages, adopting many orphans, and could be regarded as a remarkable and kind-hearted adult.


    Whening here, the team leader specially reminded her that the Moriarty Family was not only wealthy but also a Founding Family served by elves. Although Mr. James had a gentle personality, she still needed to be very careful.


    ording to the rules, any direct participants involved with a demon incident must be sent to the local Supervisory Bureau wearing a Restriction Lock for a soul examination by the Legal Mage after they are out of life-threatening danger. They would only be sent back to the hospital or sanatorium after being confirmed innocent.


    This is because the identities of the demon ritual''s master, participants, instructor, and sacrifice cannot be simply distinguished by the status of ''injured or not'' as victims.


    If the sacrifice survives, it indicates the ritualrgely failed¡ªalthough the sacrificed may not necessarily die, they are usually killed to silence them. Therefore, if there are injured rather than dead, the injured person might not be the sacrifice but could likely be rted to the ritual.


    Yet such rules now seem to have failed.


    Director Kent acted like a blind man,pletely ignoring this clue within reach. It was the old butler who took the initiative to contact Director Kent, scheduling today''s meeting; only then did it seem like he "suddenly remembered" this matter. Moreover, when she arrived, the Supervisory Bureau didn''t assign her any apanying Legal Mage; they only let her, an intern inspector without a gryphon, armor, or sword,e alone.


    Such obvious collusion...


    Hayna felt that even if this incident really involved Aiwass, she probably couldn''t take him away.


    But because of such fanfare, she instead felt... perhaps this incident really was rted to him.


    ...How nice.


    He was simply amoner orphan adopted out of charity. Just because of good fortune, he caught the eye of the professor and was taken in. And now, he has be a towering figure that even the Supervisory Bureau cannot touch...


    Standing at the doorway, Hayna was lost in thought, feeling somewhat bitter about it.


    But at that moment, the iron gate slowly opened.


    Startled, she raised her head and saw the old man''s expressionless face, which somehow seemed less angry than before.


    The elderly elf gave her a nce, then turned and walked back inside with his hands behind his back.


    Hayna was startled for a moment before realizing he was signaling her to follow.


    She hurriedly put on the hat she was holding and quickly followed. But after taking a few steps, she remembered to close the gate behind her. When she turned back to do so, she saw that the manor gate had closed on its own.


    Not only that but bright runes lit up from the inside of that ordinary-looking iron gate.


    The sunlight nted, the evening breeze paused. Hayna faintly felt as if something intangible enveloped the area, altering the ambiance of the estate.


    "I didn''te to trouble you, Miss Hayna."


    Although the elderly elf walked ahead of her, the old man''s voice, which had softened considerably, reached her ears precisely: "But when you set an appointment with someone, you adhere to it. The agreed time is when you meet, not a moment sooner or a minuteter. Yes, in school, breaking the rules might not lead to severe consequences, but there are no Gryphon Knights patrolling the streets, no Legal Mages with armed knights routinely examining the tax ledgers ofpanies¡ªthere is no Inspector like you, who can arrest suspects directly.


    "Everyone in this nation values ''rules.'' The Supervisory Bureau, the Legal Courts, and the Arbitration Hall not only safeguard Her Majesty''s mandate but also uphold the myriad rules established by the parliament.


    "This time I will forgive you, and I won''t mention yourpse to Mr. Kent¡ªI will say that you arrived on time but stayed afterwards to have two cups of tea and fancy some sweets out of gluttony.


    "But that''s because Mr. Aiwass is kind-hearted. I had already decided to call the Supervisory Bureau when you were an hourte. It was Mr. Aiwass who stopped me. He said, ''Everyone deserves a chance... Whatever the reason, they should at least be given an opportunity to meet first.''"


    The elderly elf continued at his leisurely pace, taking a while before reaching the entrance of the manor.


    Then, his voice grew softer, yet still clearly reached Hayna''s ears: "Although Avalon has no so-called ''nobility'' like other nations, the descendants of the Founders are equally noble. Without the sacrifices of those twenty Founders, everyone would be dead¡ªeven the Queen must respect the descendants of the Founders.


    "I sensed your sincere contrition, and so I forgave your tardiness. But you might want to consider carefully whether you have offended someone or blocked someone''s path... As I mentioned, this was an Inspector meeting that you needn''t have attended."


    Upon hearing this, Hayna suddenly froze.


    The old man at the door now turned gracefully, bowing slightly to Hayna: "Please follow me, Miss Hayna. The young master has been waiting for some time."


    It was then that he donned the butler''s mask to greet the guest.


    The previous demeanor was more like that of an instructor facing a disappointing student.


    And Hayna, her mind in turmoil, followed the elderly elf to the living room.


    The softness of the carpet under her feet startled her, and she looked up, wondering whether she ought to remove her shoes¡ªbut the elf''s indifferentposure made her uncertain, so she could only follow with an anxious heart, warmed by the sudden heat of the firece in the wintry season.


    Only then did she realize that she had made an elderly man wait at the door for two hours in the evening cold of winter.


    Feeling both guilt and shame, she did not know how to begin to speak.


    Even the suspicions she had towards Aiwass were strangely diluted by this penitence.


    Then, she saw the somewhat reckless and dissolute Mr. Aiwass Moriarty.


    At the moment, he was sitting in a wheelchair, a nket over his legs.


    His pale, fragile face was colorless, and his appearance, seeming to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, was strikingly different from the handsome features of Professor Moriarty.


    Drapped in a pure white fleece nightgown, he looked as though he had juste out from a bath. His soft tinum hair reflected the warm light of the fire. He was reading a book quietly and intently by the fire, his delicate features conveying a gentle intention... It made her think of poets and the mes rising in the firece at home.


    That beautiful scene was like a painting, and Hayna unconsciously widened her eyes.


    But just then, the young man heard something, adeptly turning his wheelchair around.


    It was at that moment that Hayna noticed he was seated in a wheelchair.


    ...Could this be the price paid for the attack by the Demon Schr?


    From some point on, she instinctively dismissed the possibility that "the Demon Schr was Aiwass."


    The young man looked over, his deep blue pupils akin to the sea.


    "Miss Hayna."


    This was a voice that carried a sense of nobility, clear and luxurious, matching his appearance.


    His voice was more vibrant and polite than his frail appearance suggested: "Nice to meet you for the first time, hello.


    "¡ª¡ªAre you here to arrest me?"

 Chapter 2: 2 Mislead

    "Not ady..."


    Hayna whispered, "I actually haven''t graduated yet."


    And this was just questioning...


    But before she could finish her sentence, she was gently interrupted by Aiwass:


    "Being able to enter the Supervisory Bureau without having formally graduated... I see, Miss Hayna, are you studying at the Royal University of Law?"


    Aiwass spoke with a standard, clean ent, free from the sense of nobility that Royal Capital dwellers took pride in¡ªthe "Elvish ent." But this only made Hayna, who hade from a small ce to study abroad, feel more favorable towards him.


    Therefore, she nodded in response, "Ah, yes."


    As she spoke, she puffed out her chest proudly, "I was the student council presidentst year, and also the top female student in the senior year. As a distinguished graduate of the Royal University of Law, I obtained employment permission from the Supervisory Bureau a year early. Although my Sword hasn''t been issued yet, my name is already there at the bureau."


    "In that case, you could also be considered my senior,"


    Aiwass said as he inteced his fingers and rested them on his knees.


    He rxed his upper body back, speaking deliberately, "I''m actually also a student at the Royal University of Law. A freshman this year."


    "...Really?"


    Hayna expressed her surprise, feeling more affinity for thismon ground, "But I haven''t seen you..."


    "That''s because I''ve been ill. I fell seriously sick even before matricting and ended up bedridden at home for three months."


    The paleness of Aiwass''splexion lent credibility to his words.


    What a tough kid...


    "I understand. You are indeed innocent... When I return, I will report to the bureau chief."


    Hayna nodded repeatedly, feeling pity. The slight envy she had felt for Aiwass dissipated.


    Feeling ashamed for this, she, as an Inspector of the Supervisory Bureau, half a Knight at that, had forgotten the teachings of humility andpassion instilled by her mentor... Envy is truly ugly.


    "Then, senior," Aiwass suddenly spoke up, "did you see what''s in the firece?"


    "The burning thing..."


    Hayna turned back, uncertain in her response, "It''s hard to tell now. It doesn''t seem like firewood."


    "That for a diary."


    Aiwass said gently, "Perhaps it''s evidence of my collusion with the Demon Schr.


    "Just like the book I have here."


    As he spoke, he closed the book in his hand and threw it into the fire.


    At his words, Hayna gasped in shock.


    Instinctively stepping forward, she reached out and, with no time to prepare, intercepted the book in midair before it could reach the mes.


    She frowned deeply and looked down, only to recognize the book as "Chedler''s Poetry Collection Eighty Selections."


    Of course, Hayna knew this book as it was the textbook for the "Elvish Language" course in her freshman year.


    She leafed through it uneasily to confirm that it was certainly not any evidence of collusion with a Demon Schr. Inside, many important and difficult points were even marked with different colored pens.


    "Just a joke."


    Aiwass''s lips curled slightly upward, "I am, after all, the victim here, senior. Didn''t you just say that... Why did you grow suspicious again at a mere mention? Don''t you have any confidence in me?"


    Hayna suddenly realized that this seemingly gentle and refined young man may have some hidden malice.


    "These are serious matters, not to be joked about."


    She put on a stern face, reproaching with the seriousness of a school setting, "The Demon Schrs often use living people as material for sacrifices, and to eliminate any witnesses, they kill the offerings after the ritual. It''s absolute evil! They would kill people as mere material without any grudge or grievance; it''s infuriating! How can you make a joke about such things?"


    As she spoke, something came to her mind, and her gaze sharpened, "Come to think of it... if you were an offering, how did you survive?"


    "They tried to sacrifice me to summon a powerful demon, but they didn''t expect the demon to favor me more. So, I turned the tables andmanded the demon to kill them all."


    The young man spoke with an ever-increasingly ridiculous grin, "In fact, the Moriarty family is filled with evil deeds; my father, Professor James Moriarty, is a Demon Schr with dreams of destroying the world. And I''m not his adopted son, but a demon he summoned from another world, capable of destroying the Kingdom of Avalon within a year."


    Hayna was dumbfounded halfway through before realizing Aiwass was just spouting nonsense.


    "...What are you rambling about?!"


    She shouted angrily, part of her anger stemming from embarrassment that she had, even for a moment, taken Aiwass''s wild words seriously.


    This youth, who looked gentle as a poet, was cunning like a fox, spouting lies about anything and everything!


    Her anger red, but not daring to raise her voice in front of the old butler, she ended up with a flushed face, "Come clean¡ªwhy were you at the Demon Ritual? Someone filed an anonymous report that you went to Stone Arch Gate Park of your own ord, and were not coerced."


    "I''m telling the truth, if you don''t believe me, just take me to the Supervisory Bureau,"


    Aiwass shrugged, appearing genuinely regretful.


    But Hayna knew that was impossible¡ªwith the obvious bias in favor of Aiwass at the Supervisory Bureau, she couldn''t arrest him without evidence. Indeed, if she took Aiwass, who was still in a wheelchair, the one to suffer would likely be herself.


    Afterward, Aiwass slowly tucked away that foxy smile.

 Chapter 3: 2 Mislead_2

    He revealed a serious expression and said earnestly, "That is true, but since you, senior, know that what I am saying is all nonsense, then why would you believe an anonymous tip-off letter? What''s the difference between what I say and that usation letter?"


    "...So, what is the truth?"


    "I can give you another version of the story¡ªI was attacked and taken to Stone Arch Bridge Park while out for a walk. When I came to, I was sitting in a wheelchair. I had no idea what had happened in between, had no clue that I had been offered as a sacrifice to a demon, nor did I know how they were driven off, or how I managed to survive..."


    "But this version of the story is too smooth, without any ws. It''s like the defense made by a Legal Mage in court. If I tell you directly, you might actually be more suspicious."


    Aiwass sighed, again appearing very helpless and innocent.


    He said, "So, which one do you believe?"


    ...If emotional parts are set aside and judged from a rational perspective, it seems thetter is more reasonable.


    I might have misunderstood Aiwass again. Is it because the jealousy in my heart hasn''tpletely dissipated?


    ¡ªAnd indeed, he couldn''t possibly summon a demon of that level because Aiwass was too weak. Hayna could sense that he was probably a Transcendent, but the reaction was very weak. At most, he had only ignited the firstyer of the Path.


    The Transcendent knowledge Hayna had learned indicated that a Transcendent in such preparatory stages, even if really summoning a demon, could only muster something on the level of a Familiar and definitely couldn''t cause such massive destruction¡ªbesides, the confirmed dead at the scene of the ritual were indeed fugitives who had drifted into the Royal Capital.


    That person had once sacrificed a small vige and was now a third-level Demon Schr, even capable of summoning an Upper-Level Demon.


    ...Could it be that after he summoned the demon, the Demonic Pact failed and he was devoured by the demon?


    It wasn''t impossible.


    If that was the case, the demon would have been banished back with the summoner''s death. Aiwass was just severely drained by the ritual and then picked up by the old butler. Logically speaking, this possibility is much greater.


    ...But why then would Aiwass tell such an outrageous lie to me?


    Soon, Hayna came to realize¡ª


    She came up with a very reasonable exnation: because her own attitude had changed too simply. She had pronounced Aiwass''s innocence without thorough interrogation. And Aiwass, as an truly innocent person, felt angry because of such a hasty attitude and deliberately spoke some strange words to mock her for being prone to preconceptions and too trusting of others.


    That''s how it was.


    That''s why the chief wasn''t very concerned about this matter... because he knew Aiwass couldn''t be the culprit, and most likely didn''t have any important information. The investigation would just be a waste of effort. Hence, he casually sent me, and I actually thought this was some important task and tried to find a w in it...


    Indeed, I was too impulsive. Too young, too eager to make a name for myself, and lost my cool in the process.


    She still remembered, another case had urred simultaneously yesterday¡ªTo conductrge-scale rituals like summoning demons, Demon Schrs typically required pairs. And in most cases, the pairs of Demon Schrs were master and apprentice.


    If the mentor Demon Schr was devoured by the summoned demon, then it would make sense for the apprentice to flee alone. If Aiwass was his assistant, the apprentice, then whomitted yesterday''s case? If Aiwass had controlled the demon to kill one person, would he let another go?


    ...Hey, what nonsense am I spouting. An Upper-Level Demon isn''t that easy to control by such a neophyte. She mocked herself.


    "I''m sorry, I was prejudiced."


    Coming to this realization, Hayna apologized outright, "I am also very sorry for overstepping earlier. If you still n to return to school, I can ask my juniors to give you some convenience."


    "This is notpensation, just an expression of some regret. If you need me to do anything else, please feel free to ask."


    "Anything?" Aiwass seemed somewhat tempted.


    "...Just to clear things up, I don''t have any money."


    Hayna''s face showed a somewhat sorrowful expression as she helplessly added, "Besides marypensation¡ªif needed, I could do some volunteer work."


    "It''s fine, as long as the misunderstanding is cleared up."


    Aiwass said with a gentle smile, "Actually, I''m also feeling uneasy. After all, if you return and someone happens to mention something that arouses your suspicion, leading you to investigate again, it would be troublesome for both parties. Not to mention if you were to bete again..."


    "So now, why don''t you guess why I would know about the demon? Even though I hadn''te into contact with anything and was unconscious the whole time. But why could I guess the moment we met that this matter was rted to the Demon Schr?"


    "...I think this is what they call the art of deduction! Just like the famous Mr. Sherlock!"


    Hayna''s eyes lit up, "I remember Mr. Sherlock was also the professor''s favorite student. He seemed to excel at this sort of divination-like method to discern other people''s details! I collected newspaper clipping of the cases he solved¡ªI cut out the parts about Mr. Sherlock from those newspapers and pasted them into a book. Now that book is already one-third full..."


    Feeling that she had met a fellow enthusiast, she suddenly became excited.


    Hayna had already been feeling a bit guilty, and now she was eager to show her friendliness, to demonstrate that she truly had no intention of targeting him. She nearly forced herself to exhibit a friendly demeanor, and finally, she had found a breakthrough¡ªtheir shared admiration for Mr. Sherlock!


    Watching Hayna caught up in her excitement, talking nonstop, Aiwass, sitting in his wheelchair, narrowed his eyes, showing a harmless smile.


    If Hayna weren''t so careless and had observed carefully, she might have noticed the old Elf who stood quietly by her side, whose shadow beneath him didn''t move at all. However, the shadow cast by Aiwass''s wheelchair was trembling slightly, like a wild beast breathing steadily in sleep.


    This was entirely a ''deduction'' you made on your own, I hardly told any lies.


    Deduction is prone to bias when you determine a conclusion first and then look for evidence. It seems you are not yet qualified.


    ¡ªYes, Aiwass indeed was a sacrifice.


    But at the same time, "Aiwass" was also indeed a participant in the Demon Ritual.


    What he said before was not a lie.


    Had he not suddenly recalled memories of his past life, he might well have been an "Otherworldly Demon" summoned by the ritual using Aiwass''s soul as the offering.


    Because apanying those memories of the past life was the familiar light screen that appeared before his eyes:


    Aiwass, human male,bined level 4


    Basic professions¡ª


    Priest LV1: [Basic Prayer-1st level (93%)]


    Demon Schr LV3: [Demonology Knowledge-1st level (13%)], [Basic Ritual-1st level (5%)], [Demonic Pact-1st level (99%)]


    Paths illuminated: Dedication-0th Layer; Transcendence-1st Layer


    Mana Pool: 1/1 (Light), 3/3 (Darkness)


    Free Experience: 24


    Path Traits¡ª


    Transcendence-Shadow Affinity LV1: You have formed a lifebinding pact with a Shadow Demon, enabling you to freely use first energy level shadow abilities.

 Chapter 4: 3 Aiwass Moriarty

    ```


    Now, the Shadow Demon summoned from the ritualy within the shadows beneath Aiwass''s feet.


    He sat in a wheelchair, not because his legs were paralyzed due to the sacrifice, but because if he stepped on his own shadow, he would immediately rouse the Shadow Demon, causing it to materialize.


    This wheelchair was what Aiwass asked for from the old butler upon waking.


    Because now, his Shadow Affinity level was too low.


    The Shadow Demon belonged to the Upper-Level Demons, and to control a Shadow Demon, one had to at least level up Shadow Affinity to level three, and to merge with the Shadow Demon, level five was necessary. Until then, he could only extract part of the Shadow Demon''s strength to use "special abilities." Although the Shadow Demon would not harm him and would even protect Aiwass based on their pact, he had no way to bind the Shadow Demon''s actions.


    From this perspective, a Demon Schr who contracts lower-level demons is like walking a dog; whereas in Aiwass''s case, it''s more like the dog walking the person.


    How to seal the Shadow Demon was not part of "Aiwass''s" knowledge. Instead, it came from memories of another world.


    Aiwass Moriarty, Path, Demon Schr, Kingdom of Avalon... This was the world within an MMORPG game called "Ring of Ouroboros."


    Theirpany, "No-Face God Studio," developed and operated this game.


    Saying "theirpany," however, it was irrelevant to Aiwass''s output since he wasn''t a development staff. He was the new HR Manager of this game studio,monly known as HR.


    Three years ago, Aiwass resigned from his previouspany and became unemployed. He felt lost in life and had a decent amount of savings, so he decided to take a long vacation. That''s how his best buddy dragged him into this pit.


    This buddy was the game''s narrative designer, constantly promoting it by talking about the various easter eggs he had designed.


    Eventually, Aiwass gave in to the nagging and also happened to be in a gaming lull, so he got into it and yed for a while, finding it indeed a good game. The downside was that it was quite grindy¡ªbut it was a decent way to pass the time while unemployed at home.


    Later, when he heard that "No-Face God Studio" was hiring, just as he got past the nonpete period, he directly submitted his resume and came for the interview. He was fed up with HR work and thought of trying to be a scriptwriter, yet it turns out it was his talent for HR that was recognized. But he also reconciled with it¡ªHR it was then. At the end of the day, a corporate drone is a corporate drone, all the same.


    While he was still transitioning jobs, he got transported to this world because he was replying to his boss''s message while crossing the street and was hit by a dump truck.


    ...If only he had known he would transmigrate into this world, he would''ve asked for more internal information from thepany or read more plot discussion threads on the forums!


    This was his biggest mistake.


    Because fundamentally, Aiwass was the kind of yer who didn''t pay much attention to the storyline or characters, and was more of a hardcore grinder.


    Although he knew a bunch of secret settings, character backgrounds, and future main quests that ordinary yers were unaware of through chats with friends and some early plot leaks from the group, he never cared much for the main storyline; side quests rted to various characters interested him much more.


    Aiwass got into the game from the 3.0 era, just after clearing the first raid boss. He used the main quest book to automaticallyplete all previous main quests up to the start of 3.0. Not only that, he skipped through cutscenes he could during leveling and at the start of dungeons. For those cutscenes that couldn''t be skipped, it was just rapid clicking through to the end.


    As a result, now, Aiwass couldn''t remember what the early main storyline was. However, he retained a more vivid memory of theter story, as the storyline performances of the main raid bosses were quite impressive. Even without paying close attention to the earlier storyline, he could guess the gist through the unskippable raid cutscenes.


    At the very beginning of the main story, "Aiwass" made his appearance.


    He was kidnapped in the year 1898 of the Scale Calendar and brought to an altar for a ritual. A "yer" identally lifted the barrier set up to drive away passersby and witnessed the brutal sacrifice. In the nick of time, he pretended he had already reported the matter to the Supervisory Bureau and was leading the Gryphon Knights there, scaring away the two people present.


    Aiwass was saved by the "yer" from the sacrificial altar, and then he offered hospitality to the yer, who had nowhere to go after having their wallet and identity stolen, inviting them to his home for food and rest.


    Afterward, Aiwass would join the yer in their studies, grow together, and continue to investigate the case. As they delved deeper, the case grew increasinglyplicated, even involving the upper echelons of the kingdom...


    It was because Aiwass fell into mortal peril that his sister, Yulia, suddenly lost control¡ªwith the catalyst of the Blood Crystal Stone, she transformed into "Phantom Demon ¡¤ Defiant me Butterfly," the first eight-person raid boss.


    That was also the first Phantom Demon that the yers encountered in the game.


    Her real body was curled up, encased in an amber-like transparent butterfly thorax, protected by wings made of me Spirits. Because the dungeon was of a low level, this eight-person raid was the easiest to match in daily random dungeons, meaning one had to fight Yulia three to four times a week on average.


    Since Yulia didn''t want to harm Aiwass, the boss had no intricate mechanics or desire to attack, turning it into a ssic entry-level boss where you hit whates and dodge whates. With high enough levels, one could even get by without worrying about mechanics and just keep hitting the main body. If you defeated Yulia and then read the main quest book, you could get some rewards in terms of appearance.


    ```

 Chapter 5: 3 Aiwass Moriarty_2

    Finally, she was killed, and after losing most of her spirituality, she shrank into a me butterfly, which Aiwass contracted to be his first familiar. Aiwass used this method to preserve her spirituality, hoping to eventually find the master of the "Insect Amber" who possessed the legendary revival magic to bring her back to life.


    Only in version 5.0 of the main story did Aiwass master a new ability. He could seal the theoretically unkible phantom demons into cards, which acted as enhancement-type equipment to arm his familiars. It was only then that Aiwass finally received a major enhancement that was exclusive to him.


    After that, he stopped joining yers in dungeon raids and instead became the plot''s finishing move against phantom demon-type bosses in the CG.


    "...Brother?"


    Just as Aiwass came to this realization, he suddenly heard a young voice.


    He was startled.


    Hayna, excitedly discussing "Sherlock and Deduction" with Aiwass, also instinctively turned her head when she heard the voice.


    There was a little girl standing silently at the door.


    "You woke up yesterday, just when I was asleep. After I woke up, you went back to sleep," she said, somewhat aggrieved and somewhat astonished. "Brother, howe you''re... in a wheelchair now?


    "¡ªAnd who is she?"


    She was dressed in the same pure white fluffy pajamas as Aiwass, her silver-white hair reaching her shoulders, her deep red pupils reminiscent of roses. Her features were delicate and gentle, evoking the image of a white cat or rabbit, a type utterly different from Aiwass''s dazzling handsomeness. Whether it was her eyebrows, hair color, or pupil color, everything proved that there was no blood rtion between the two.


    If there was any resemnce between them, it was that sense of frailty passed down in their lineage.


    She had a simr frailty to Aiwass, and it was even more pronounced in her.


    The girl''s skin was somewhat sickly, almost transparently pale. She stood at the door unconsciously leaning on the doorframe, her body slightly tilted to shift her weight and reduce the pressure of standing upright.


    ¡ªSuch a cute girl!


    Hayna''s eyes lit up.


    Like seeing an adorable pet, she wanted to get closer but feared she might scare the other.


    "It''s okay, Yuli. It''s just temporary. This is Senior Hayna; she had some things to ask," said Aiwass, smiling and addressing the girl with a nickname just as he remembered. But for some reason, it felt awkward and unnatural.


    It was like not using friends'' names for a long time, calling them by nicknames instead, and feeling strange when suddenly calling them by their full names as if the name didn''t belong to them.


    After a momentary daze, he opened his arms slightly to Yulia: "Come here for a hug."


    "...Okay."


    Yulia obediently wobbled over, as if she had just woken up, exuding a sense of weakness that made one worry about her falling.


    As he embraced Yulia, who snuggled up to him, Aiwass felt a sudden moment of disorientation.


    The Yulia he held now was from this world, yet it felt like another world entirely.


    Having received the "prophecies" from another world, Aiwass suddenly felt a certain fear for the future.


    Yulia would turn into a monster... and then, she would die.


    ¡ªAt that moment, Aiwass''s memories ovepped with reality. They mergedpletely, and the memories from his two lives became clear. It was like a sleepy person suddenly awakened from a nightmare, finally able to distinguish whether they were dreaming or not.


    It took Aiwass two full days after awakening his past life''s memories to finally realize that he was not dreaming. He had truly crossed over to another world.


    He hade to this world at a very young age, and only just recently remembered who he was.


    But now, he also clearly realized another fact¡ªthat the current plot was different.


    The Aiwass in the game definitely had not contracted with the Shadow Demon.


    Because the ritual this time was interrupted by yers, it never sessfully took ce.


    And this probably meant that there were no "yer characters" in this world.


    In an epic fantasy game, yers usually take on the role of a one-time savior; and if the game is an MMO, they usually be a continuous, high-frequency, low-forgiveness savior.


    They have to save the world with every major update.


    ...And that would be troublesome for him.


    Because "yers" are, by design, descendants of the "Serpent Father," one of the Nine Pir Gods who once controlled "The Path of Transcendence." This is the reason yers can have "Experience Points" and "Levels," allowing them to grow stronger endlessly, unimpeded by any threshold or talent. By design, yers didn''t actually do dungeon raids, nor did they form teams. Instead, they defeated all enemies by themselves.


    But Aiwass, despite being a key character, couldn''t defeat cmities like the "Fallen Celestial Marshal," "Cmity Demon Dragon," or "Shadow of Avalon," the world-ending disasters, by mere conventional strength.


    Aiwass knew that in about half a year, something terrible would happen to the Kingdom of Avalon.


    Though he didn''t remember the main story in detail, at least he remembered key moments like the version update.


    What he told Hayna was no lie. The Kingdom of Avalon would indeed face a catastrophe in half a year, and it was deeply rted to the current unnoticed Demon Ritual.


    But now, Aiwass still had a chance to change everything.


    To change everything¡ª


    He hugged Yulia tighter subconsciously, and the girl, sensing something, asked perceptively, "Brother?"

 Chapter 6: 3 Aiwass Moriarty_3

    "...nothing much."


    Aiwass smiledposedly, "Just,st night I had a very long dream... I dreamt that Yulia left me."


    However, at that moment, he suddenly felt Yulia''s body in his arms tense up sharply.


    ...Hmm?


    A flicker of movement crossed Aiwass'' mind.


    As if to cover something up, Yulia suddenly asked, "Brother''s wheelchair... how long must you use it?"


    "Probably... about a year?"


    As Aiwass spoke, he looked towards the old butler, "That''s what the doctor said, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, Mr. Aiwass."


    The old butler asked without hesitation, "So, you''ll be taking a year off from school? After all, you have already taken three months off."


    That was a lie.


    And it was from both sides.


    There was never any doctor who asked Aiwass to use a wheelchair; it was Aiwass'' own request. Those Demon Schrs who had contracted with Shadow Demons would use this method to seal the demons while they were still unable to control them.


    In addition to sitting in a wheelchair for movement, one must also avoid violent actions and slow down their movements to reduce the heart rate¡ªthis is a conventional method of suppressing a demon.


    Beyond that, one could also take some medications to suppress the heart rate, causing the sealed demon inside to sleep.


    "There''s no need," Aiwass said, "Once this incident is resolved, I''ll go back to school."


    "...This incident resolved?"


    Hayna btedly realized something.


    She instinctively felt that in that instant... Aiwass'' attitude seemed to have changed.


    She was quite familiar with that feeling.


    In her freshman year, still ignorant, Hayna believed she was the genius of her remote small town. When the end-of-year exams arrived, barely passing astrology was a cold sweat inducing experience.


    But precisely because of this, she took things seriously and realized that in the most prestigious institution in ss Ind''s Red Queen District, she was not as brilliant as she thought she was. At least... she was not a pure genius, but a hard-working one.


    With the attitude of casual learning she had held before, she might have failed despite not missing any sses... Now, being able to graduate with the Seven-Petal Flower Seal representing a perfect score was indeed thanks to Professor Moriarty''s scathing Three-Petal Flower Seal, representing "passing," that woke her.


    For ordinary students, this was a mark of release from penalty, worthy of celebration; but for the proud Hayna, it felt like a p on the face, burning and silencing her, leaving her mind nk.


    Aiwass was giving her that feeling at this moment.


    It was like waking from a dream upon seeing the report card¡ª


    "Yes, I want to participate in the investigation."


    Aiwass suddenly became serious, "Since they kidnapped me once, there will be a second time. I can''t rest easy leaving home until those cultists are cleansed; likewise, I can''t sit idly at home waiting for an investigation result that I may not be able to ept¡ªso I, too, want to join the investigation."


    Upon hearing this, Hayna felt embarrassed. Undoubtedly, this was an implicitment on the Supervisory Bureau''s extremely slow investigative efficiency.


    The Supervisory Bureau, very particr about "rules," must report everything to the higher-ups and follow standard procedures. These are the edicts of the knights in the Senate.


    Because they can hardly uncover anything, they even have to request assistance from detectives. The "Sherlock" Hayna mentioned earlier is a detective who has recently be quite famous in the newspapers.


    Sherlock graduated from Royal Law University years ago, but didn''t choose to join the Supervisory Bureau, the Court of Law, or the Arbitration Hall. Now, he is a special counselor to the Supervisory Bureau, conducting investigations free from the myriad of regtions imposed by the bureau, and has sessively cracked several major cases, his status now far surpassing that of his old ssmates who entered the Supervisory Bureau after graduation.


    "If Miss Hayna can''t decide, feel free to report my words to your superior and ask for his opinion,"


    Aiwass said calmly, with his hands crossed, "After all, ording to the rules, you must submit all the content of this conversation to your superiors, mustn''t you?"


    For some reason, Aiwass at that moment reminded Hayna of an Inspector from the Supervisory Bureau.

 Chapter 7: 4 The Gaze of the Silver-Crowned Dragon

    Hayna had just left not long ago when James Moriarty returned home with a heavy suitcase in tow.


    "Have the folks from the Supervisory Bureau just left?"


    Old James asked as soon as he entered the door.


    He apparently had met Hayna at the manor gate and exchanged pleasantries for a while.


    James was a genteel old gentleman with distinct wrinkles on his face. His grey pupils were somewhat cloudy, his eye sockets deep, and his hair white and sparse. However, his skin was remarkably well-maintained. With gaunt cheeks and prominent cheekbones, he seemed skinny in his coat, but it was immediately apparent that he was not frail once he took it off.


    Whenever he spoke, he did so softly and with an elongated, gently curling elven ent. One could tell that he was well-educated and certainly possessed a fine temperament.


    He set down the suitcase at the entrance, took off his double-breasted overcoat, handed over his hat to the personal manservant waiting by the door, and said, "They didn''t grill Aiwass for several hours, did they... Ah, thank you, Wade. Remember to bring this suitcase to Aiwass''s roomter."


    "Yes, sir. I have noted it," his personal manservant responded quietly as he took the items and retreated.


    "Miss Hayna has beente."


    The old elf chose not to cover for her but directly expressed his dissatisfaction, "It''s always the same with her, thinking of the hat and forgetting the tie, so absent-minded. If she keeps this up, she''ll sooner orter miss something big and get a harsh lesson from her superior."


    "Let''s wait for ''sooner orter'' to happen before we talk about it; if she makes a mistake because of her bad habits, let her mistakes teach her."


    The old man just smiled, narrowed his eyes, and said warmly, "Don''t scold her now for mistakes she might make in the future, Oswald. You are only her instructor, not her superior."


    He was quite friendly and close to his elf butler named Oswald.


    This was normal because when he was about the same age as Aiwass is now, more than sixty years ago, he had also been raised under Oswald''s care.


    Besides the old butler, the mansion employed sixteen other live-in servants¡ªincluding a housekeeper, two personal maids, two personal manservants, two maids, five manservants, a cook, two assistant cooks, and a coachman. Edward Moriarty, Aiwass''s elder brother, usually did note home. Aside from him and Yulia, there were only the old master left in the house.


    James usually conducted himself with modesty and steadiness and was polite even to the servants. Although he rarely smiled, he never lost his temper with the servants.


    ¡ªOr to be more precise, no one had seen him lose his temper or get angry in decades. Even when faced with the most impolite guests, the old man always maintained his dignity without arrogance or servility.


    Yes, the old man.


    Although James was nominally Aiwass''s adoptive father, he was old enough to be Aiwass''s grandfather in reality.


    And that made sense... he had adopted Aiwass when the boy was only six years old. And now Aiwass was eighteen.


    Edward Moriarty, the elder brother of Aiwass and Yulia, had been adopted by James at the age of eight. He was now thirty-five.


    "...Dad."


    Standing beside Aiwass, Yulia came over and greeted him softly.


    She was like a well-behaved kitty, nestling close, and the old man affectionately stroked her head.


    "How are you feeling today, Yulia?"


    He asked earnestly, "Did you take your medicine properly?"


    "I have taken it already."


    Yulia replied gently, her voice carrying a dream-like transparency.


    "Go to bed early, don''t read toote. Knowledge is something you can never finish learning."


    The old man tenderly admonished, "You shouldn''t sleepter than nine in the evening, your health isn''t good¡ªdid you hear me, Yulia?"


    As he spoke, Yulia''s gaze began to drift aside, so he raised his voice a bit, emphasizing, "Yulia?"


    "Mm, I understand."


    Yulia responded absently.


    The old man sighed helplessly and reiterated, "Don''t stay upte, you silly girl.


    "You don''t go out anyway, day or night makes no difference to you. Better to sleep early and look at whatever books during the day. It''s also better for your eyes."


    As he continued, Yulia fell silent again.


    Old James had no choice but to stress, "I''m old now, I can''t stay upte. I need to sleep by ten at night, and I won''t be able to answer your questions. But if you read during the day, you cane to me with any questions at any time. I don''t have sses tomorrow, and I will be home for several days. Whatever you don''t understand, you can ask me, okay?"


    "...Okay."


    This time, Yulia didn''t pretend not to hear; she looked up earnestly, her ruby-like eyes fixed on the old man, "I''ve recently been reading books on alchemy... Discussions from the ''Bnce'' Path. Do you understand this topic, Dad?"


    "I know all the books at home," said the old man calmly. "I understand a little about all nine Paths."


    His tone was even, yet a sense of confidence naturally emerged.


    "Then I will definitely go to bed early today."


    The girl raised two fingers next to her ear, pointing to the sky, and earnestly said, "I swear, my word is my bond¡ª"


    "Don''t."


    But the old man just reached out, gently bent the girl''s fingers back, and made a fist.


    "Don''t do that."


    James spoke sternly, "That''s a [Simple Oath], a gesture with spirit. If you break the promise, there will be real consequences."

 Chapter 8: 4 The Gaze of the Silver-Crowned Dragon_2

    "...I just wanted to try."


    Yulia whispered, "I''ve just read about it today in a book... Was my gesture just now correct?"


    "Correct. So don''t do it again."


    The old man sighed wearily, "Go and have your meal, I need to talk to Aiwass."


    Yulia agreed, then followed Butler Oswald to the dining room, leaving only two people in the living room.


    James reverted to silence, sitting opposite Aiwass.


    The old man picked up the cup of tea that Inspector Hayna hadn''t touched, poured it out, and then poured himself another cup of hot tea.


    Looking at the silent Aiwass, he asked softly while holding the tea cup, "How do you feel... about your current state? Is it still stable?"


    What he was referring to was the Shadow Demon that Aiwass had contracted.


    Such matters could never be hidden from a foster father.


    If Aiwass had woken up at home, it mostly meant that Butler Oswald had brought him back while he was unconscious. That meant James must have already examined his body and applied a simplemon seal, at least not letting the Shadow Demon take over his body while Aiwass was unconscious.


    It could be said it was very considerate.


    In the "future" visions, that crazed, gloomy James Moriarty, hunched over, and the caring, kind old man in front of him looked as if they were not the same person at all!


    In his memories, there were only scenes of James''s loving care¡ª


    When Aiwass was just over ten years old, he once said unintentionally that he missed the special fried cod fish that Mrs. Misu used to make for them during the holidays at the orphanage.


    The very next day, Mrs. Misu was hired as a cook in the house for a good sry. Not just the special fried cod fish, but other moner dishes" she was skilled at were also taught to the house''s cooks. When she was asked to leave, they even gave her an extra bonus.


    That had scared Aiwass so much that for over half a year, he dared not say what he wanted to eat or have. He was afraid that no sooner had he spoken than it would be bought immediately.


    Even without the recollection of his past life''s memories, Little Aiwass always had a clear self-awareness¡ªhe was not James Moriarty''s biological son after all. He did not deserve to take such privileges for granted.


    It was because Aiwass was more sensible that he didn''t turn into some spoiled brat under such pampering.


    So now, when Aiwass looked at his foster father, he always feltplicated. He harbored a kind of fluke mentality.


    ...Could there be a possibility that at the start of the story, his foster father was not the mastermind yet? Or perhaps, it was only after the copse of the Avalon Kingdom that he fell into wickedness?


    It was not impossible.


    In the original story, when the Avalon Kingdom copsed, Aiwass had fled to the Holy Nation with the protagonist. From that time on, he had separated from his foster father. The next time they met, it was already three yearster.


    Maybe...


    Something happened during those three years?


    ...But then again, that wouldn''t exin Aiwass being a spy, infiltrating the "yer''s" side.


    "¡ªAiwass?"


    Seeing Aiwass fall back into his thoughts, the old man called out softly again, "If it''s not okay, shall I go find the Archbishop Your Excellency to exorcise the demon possessing you?"


    "...Ah, I''m fine, father. Among the demon knowledge I acquired from those people, there happens to be a method for sealing the Shadow Demon," Aiwass looked up and said, revealing aforting smile. "I was just thinking about other things."


    "Then I trust you."


    The foster father nodded slowly, "The materials you asked for yesterday, I''ve already brought back for you. The rope from the gallows was easy to find... but the nails from the heads of those executed by drawing and quartering, those were very hard to find. They''ve been abolished since the queen took the throne, and I found them in the museum."


    "I don''t know if you''ll need themter, so I''ve brought back all four that exist. The museum records have been dealt with cleanly, so you don''t need to worry about anything. Just tell me if you need anything else... and don''t trust outsiders so easily anymore."


    ...He found them so quickly?


    Aiwass could hardly believe it.


    He hadn''t expected the foster father to actually get them within a day.


    Is this the extent of power that the Moriarty Family could harness during the existence of the Avalon Kingdom?


    "This is great! With these, I will be able to seal the Shadow Demon more steadily."


    Aiwass felt a warmth in his heart and gratefully said from the depth of his soul, "Thank you, Father!"


    The two ritual materials he requested were actually not for sealing the Shadow Demon. Because using the wheelchair was the simplest and most stable method of sealing, as the Demon Schrs of the Star Antimony Kingdom would test and find out four yearster.


    "Then I''ll skip dinner tonight!"


    There was a tingling sensation in his heart, and he seemed a bit impatient. Aiwass had always been such an enthusiast of the mystical arts; his current actions were not at all out of ce for him.


    "I''ll do it."


    Seeing Aiwass about to leave by pushing his own wheelchair, Old James quickly stepped forward, grabbed the back of the wheelchair, and pushed Aiwass to his room.


    On the way, the old man spoke softly, "Aiwass, although you might be unhappy to hear this... Dad still has to say it."


    "During the ritual, make sure not to use humans or their corpses as materials or offerings. Apart from that, whatever materials you need, Dad will find a way to get them for you... Can you promise your Dad that?"


    Upon hearing this, Aiwass, seated in the wheelchair, was a bit surprised and his eyes widened slightly.


    Not because he was shocked that his adoptive father, the man behind the curtains, would make such an ethically sounding request...


    But because he knew that what the old man said waspletely correct.


    It was not until the "Fallen Celestial Marshal" descended that the Demon Schrs, whose rank ceilings were raised, realized they were entirely on the wrong path.


    They all thought that the emphasis on being a Demon Schr was on "Demon," not realizing it was actually on "Schr."


    Humans cannot use humans as ritual materials, Elves cannot use Elves. If one is a transformed Undead, then they cannot use any animal bones as materials. This is the "Heaven''s Scourge" taboo.


    Any Demon Schr who used offerings from their own kin and incurred the punishment of Heaven''s Scourge could not advance from their profession to be a "Great Sin Schr." Those fifth Energy Level Demon Schrs could only transform themselves into various Demons. That couldn''t even count as advancement, just swapping their professional level for a racial temte stronger than a human''s.


    Without a doubt, such a limit and strength were much weaker than that of the heroic profession "Great Sin Schr."


    And from the very beginning, yers could not use their kin as ritual materials, therefore they could never meet the incorrect conditions for advancement.


    Now, James had spoken out this secret so clearly.


    Was it a coincidence, or was it...


    Aiwass had a thought and simply nodded earnestly.


    He raised two fingers of his right hand to his ear and solemnly uttered the oath, "I swear not to use the life or corpses of my kin as materials or offerings for my rituals."


    As his voice fell, he suddenly witnessed a phantasmagoria¡ª


    Atop a snowy mountain in the darkness of night.


    A radiant dragon that appeared to be made of crystal, diamond, and silver, wearing a Silver Crown, quietly gazed at him.


    The visionsted only a brief moment, less than half a second. But when Aiwass awoke, he was covered in a cold sweat.


    [You have felt the gaze of ''Authority'']


    [You have acquired the trait: Authority-Silver Scale]


    [Authority-Silver Scale: With this mark as a sign, the Silver-Crowned Dragon is watching over you. A certain oath you have taken cannot be broken. When you attack any oathbreaker, you gain a +1 favorable (divine)]


    "...I don''t know if this is your luck or misfortune, but even a ''simple oath'' has caught Its attention. It must be a coincidence..."


    The elder behind Aiwass also seemed to sense something and stopped in his tracks.


    He was silent for a while before continuing to push the wheelchair slowly and said softly, "But no matter what, the God of Authority has heard your oath, and now it cannot be broken."


    "Of course..."


    Aiwass closed his eyes, feeling tired, and felt his heart that was beating so wildly it felt obstructed, "I will never tread down that irrevocable path of degeneracy."

 Chapter 9: 5 Enchantment Card: Blade of Shadows

    Aiwass didn''t even wait for authorization from the Supervisory Bureau before he knew that he would inevitably be involved in the investigation.


    If all went well, he could also investigate independently¡ªwithout being closely monitored by Inspector Hayna, he could directly participate in the investigation under the identity of "Supervision Bureau Assistant."


    On the one hand, it was the face of his foster father; on the other hand, the Supervisory Bureau, bound by the superior''s rules, was very weing of help from outsiders¡ªsince Mr. Sherlock started, now running his own office, being employed by the Supervisory Bureau, consulting "Detectives" have even be a profession.


    If the investigation went poorly, it would be due to the ipetence of the hired detective, at least sparing them from harsh internal ountability; if everything went smoothly, then it would be because the guidance proposed by the Supervisory Bureau was correct, at the very least it would count as a merit, ensuring a fair share of the benefits.


    Although Hayna was a genuine inspector, Aiwass knew the Supervisory Bureau even better than she did.


    The reason Aiwass was so actively involved in the investigation was that he had his own reasons.


    ¡ªThose were revenge and silencing.


    The two versions of the story that Aiwass had told that inspector from the Supervisory Bureau before were actually false. Or rather, they weren''t entirely true.


    He was indeed a participant in the ritual and indeed knew those two Demon Schrs.


    But he was also indeed a sacrificial offering in the ritual.


    Because those two Demon Schrs were actually Aiwass''s "pen pals."


    From a young age, Aiwass has been very interested in knowledge rted to taboos. The more the Avalon Kingdom prohibited mystical skills, the more excited he became in studying them.


    For example, the ritual magic from the [Transcendence] Path, as well as the Preservation Arts from the [Dusk] Path.


    The former is the foundational ability of Demon Schrs, and one of the careers that extends from thetter is Necromancer. Just from the name, it''s not anything good.


    This kind of forbidden knowledge, there were only a small part of overviews in his foster father''s study. Privately hoarding forbidden books could be a serious crime that leads to imprisonment, even in the Knight Family. But after reading the overview, the young Aiwass became even more itching for more.


    He feverishly purchased some ritual materials, and without any grasp of transcendent knowledge or mystical skills, relied entirely on conjecture and imagination to try to conduct rituals.


    This was bound to fail, of course.


    The core secret of this world is "knowledge."


    The nine mystical skills corresponding to the nine Paths, all require corresponding knowledge to master¡ªconversely, as long as one has mastered the corresponding knowledge, even if their personal strength is weak, they can obtain transcendent strength far beyond their actual abilities. Each piece of forbidden knowledge is almost the foundation of an entire school of thought. Under such circumstances, it is impossible to buy reliable "skill books" from the market.


    On his sixteenth birthday, a secret society of Demon Schrs, "Noble Red," suddenly contacted Aiwass.


    Aiwass was initially very cautious. But the other party sent him several hand-copied manuscripts of forbidden books along with the letter, all about demon knowledge and Demon Rituals.


    Although they were all small-scale rituals that weren''t much different from tricks¡ªsuch as causing sores, healing minor wounds, making someone drowsy, or making people a bit more unlucky. They seemed not very useful, but they were all genuine transcendent rituals!


    After Aiwass tried them one by one, he became very excited. Thus, he became pen pals with the other party and often exchanged demonology knowledge, and the other party also considered themselves a friend of Aiwass. They often chatted about emotional life and daily trivial matters.


    At first, Aiwass was still somewhat cautious.


    But then, two years quietly passed by.


    Aiwass thought that if the other party wanted to deceive him, they would have likely already done so. The value of the secret knowledge they had given him was already quite high¡ªalthough Aiwass, who had never been to the ck market, was unclear on how much this knowledge would really sell for, even if not high quality, the quantity was already considerable.


    ¡ªWhat kind of scammer would operate for so long and invest so much just to trick one person?


    It didn''t make sense nor was it rational. It also did not conform to the principle of maximum benefit.


    So, Aiwass gradually let down his guard and truly regarded this pen pal as a friend whom he had never met but with whom he had a great rapport.


    A few days ago, the other party imed that they had something to do in the Royal Capital and wanted to meet Aiwass.


    Aiwass believed them without hesitation, without any defenses.


    ¡ªThis was the lie he told the inspector. Because "Aiwass" was not kidnapped, but had actively approached them.


    They were a man and a woman both dressed in red robes and shaved bald. The man looked to be in his forties or fifties, and the woman was in her twenties. In addition to their roles as mentors and apprentices, they were also lovers.


    He warmly invited his "two friends" for a meal, afterward the middle-aged man suggested that he could let Aiwass witness, even personally participate in a real Demon summoning ritual¡ªAiwass agreed excitedly.


    But after he busied himself setting up the ritual for over an hour, he suddenly realized something as he looked at the ritual tform.


    Doesn''t summoning a Demon require some expensive materials?


    And it was then that he btedly realized that by setting up the ritual tform himself, he had just precisely be a "willing sacrificial offering." At the same time, as a student of the Royal College of Law Theological Seminary, before graduation, Aiwass could be a Priest.


    Although he had not truly embarked on the Path of the Transcendent, he had already taken the first step towards [Dedication].

 Chapter 10: 5: Enchantment Card: Blade of Shadows_2

    Reflected on his data card was that he now possessed a Level 1 Priest profession. Once the experience for "Basic Prayer," the basic skill, was fully umted, Aiwass would be able to promote his Priest profession to Level 2 and master his first Path of Devotion trait.


    Of course, he excitedly shared this with his pen pals¨C¨Calthough "Priest" wasn''t as interesting as "Demon Schr," it was still an extraordinary profession. To embark on a transcendent path and possess extraordinary abilities was better than having none at all.


    More importantly, Priests were respected professionals in Avalon.


    The symbol of the "Dedication" Path was light, guardianship, and candles. It was the path of devoting oneself for others and one''s ideals, where gaining strength was only possible by truly practicing this concept from one''s heart. Hence, all professions stemming from the Path of Devotion were promising and recognized as extraordinary professions by society.


    Thus, as a "willing sacrifice" and follower of "Dedication," Aiwass became a sacrifice of the highest caliber.


    It was also not until that moment, when facing the threat of death, that Aiwass recalled his memories from a past life. He recognized the type of demon first and sessfully made a pact with it.


    He manipted the Shadow Demon to stealthily assassinate the stunned middle-aged man, who was the "mentor" Demon Schr. But the woman, his apprentice, was still alive.


    If she had been just a little slower, she would have been killed by Aiwass; but if she dared to turn back to look, she could have turned the tables and killed Aiwass instead.


    It was so close.


    Aiwass sighed.


    ¨C¨CIt was so close, he was nearly sacrificed and silenced by that man; yet again, so close, and he could have been killed by that woman.


    Betrayed, deceived, and plotted against for murder.


    Aiwass felt a sincere surge of anger within him and decided without hesitation to seek revenge.


    Not to mention, it was very likely that the woman had seen Aiwass''s letter.


    This meant that if she were captured, she could possibly divulge Aiwass¨C¨Cno, she would definitely betray him.


    His foster father''s stance was now unclear, but even for his own sake, he needed to silence her before the Supervisory Bureau caught her.


    However, Aiwass was equally not nning to expose his Demon Schr identity just to kill her.


    He had a way.


    After waking up yesterday, Aiwass''s first reaction was to try a simple ritual that the original "Aiwass" did not know and which had only appeared in theter stages of the game. After using that ritual to replenish the life force that had been drained from him as a sacrifice, Aiwass was almost certain¨C¨Cthe secret knowledge he possessed was also useful in this world.


    Aiwass''s profession in the game was not that of a Transcendence Path Demon Schr... but an Illuminator from the Path of Devotion.


    It was a pure support profession capable of significantly enhancing the strength of teammates, along with having a small amount of healing and control abilities.


    But now, faced with apocalyptic threats alone, such a vulnerable profession was not viable.


    Because an Illuminator cannot benefit from their own enhancements. Or to put it another way, most professions on the Path of Devotion cannot benefit from their own enhancements, protections, or healing skills.


    However, being an Illuminator as a secondary profession was possible. After all, Aiwass''s official identity was that of a Path of Devotion Priest. Switching to an Illuminator was also something he could prepare for in advance, and he was exceedingly familiar with the necessary Path traits needed to advance into that profession.


    To deal with those crises, his primary profession needed to have strong individualbat abilities.


    Taking into ount that he could dual-ss as an Illuminator, the answer became simple.


    That was the version 5.0 "Aiwass," who, after mastering the Phantom Demon Power, advanced into the "Master of Beasts."


    It was ater-stage profession after further advancing from the Great Sin Schr.


    Capable of defeating the undying Phantom Demon and extracting their essence to form his own summoned creatures, the "Great Beasts" of six attributes.


    While only one "Great Beast" could be summoned at a time, it was possible to switch to the most suitable Great Beast for the current situation, then use Support Cards, Equipment Cards, and Field Cards, created with the power of other "Great Beasts," to enhance the current one.


    And most critical was that this summoned creature was considered a "teammate."


    Not only was its output far greater than the caster''s, but it could also benefit from all types of team buffs.


    In gaming terms, it meant this profession had the highest leverage in terms of buffs.


    Because the buffs from the cards were all noble mechanical boosts¨C¨Clike Triple Speed, Armor Piercing, Poison, Burning, Evasion, Spell Pration, and notably didn''t include damage increase boosts. Coincidentally, they wouldn''t be diluted by various damage-increasing buffs from the mainstream support profession, the Illuminator.


    Although after summoning the "Great Beast," the main body couldn''t benefit from attack buffs, and thus the main body''s output would be somewhat weak.


    However, during burst cycles, the Master of Beasts could temporarily merge with the summoned, fully enhanced "Great Beast" to unleash tremendous power.


    With the Illuminatorplementing the Master of Beasts, Aiwass could use his summoned creature as a "teammate" for enhancements. And he wouldn''t lose the social prestige benefits that came with his publicly known Priest identity, while also being able to switch to a summoned creature that countered different enemies, with a high potential ceiling.


    In the worst-case scenario, where he alone had to contend with a BOSS¨Cthis jobbination might not yield the highest outburst under ideal conditions, but it was certainly the mostprehensive in terms of performance and adaptability.

 Chapter 11: 5 Enchantment Card: Blade of Shadows_3

    The ability to extract the power of a Superior Phantom and create a Phantom Card using Tarot Cards as materials, came from the preceding profession, the Great Sin Schr.


    The Great Sin Schr could, after thoroughly researching and analyzing a Phantom Demon, obtain corresponding ritual knowledge¡ªwhat card this Phantom Demon could be used to print and what materials and rituals were needed. Once this knowledge was known, even a Demon Schr could make preparations in advance.


    The most important prerequisite for advancing to be the Master of Beasts was to use the abilities of the Great Sin Schr to make six nk Cards of different attributes, each sealing a Phantom Demon of the corresponding attribute.


    Then, by repeatedly defeating Phantom Demons of the same attribute as experience materials, the level of all six Phantom Demons would be filled.


    ording to Aiwass''s memories, there was a Fire-attribute Superior Phantom residing within Yulia.


    It was to nourish that Phantom, that her body was so weak.


    After the Phantom fully matured, it would im Yulia''s life. To save her, one must confront the juvenile-phase Phantom Demon; and since Phantom Demons are immortal... it meant that conventional means could not save Yulia. At most, it could only dy the time the Phantom awoke and went out of control.


    "Master of Beasts" was different, however.


    If Aiwass could sessfully create a "nk Card" with enough capacity to contain the Phantom inside Yulia, he could directly extract the consciousness of Yulia''s internal Phantom.


    In doing so, not only could he save Yulia''s life, but he could also prepare the materials for his advancement to Master of Beasts in advance!


    And Yulia could also incidentally gain the residual energy from the Phantom¡ªmaking this unstable and dangerous power stable and growth-capable, thus stepping onto the Path of the Transcendent as well!


    All of this was based on the fact that the ritual to create cards from Aiwass''s memories was reliable and feasible.


    He had already tested other rituals before, and the ritual knowledge from the game was indeed usable!


    But the creation of the Phantom Card required additional verification because the profession of the Great Sin Schr appeared only after the descent of the Fallen Celestial Marshal.


    Now, two whole versions earlier, Aiwass was not sure whether the ritual could already be operational.


    So, he needed to experiment.


    As long as Aiwass, in the capacity of a Demon Schr, could sessfully create any Phantom Card, he could directly confirm that this system was still usable in the current version!


    Thereby, he would obtain a power unrted to the Demon Schr.


    His own vengeance, the mission to silence witnesses, would proceed smoothly.


    Yulia could be saved!


    Even the destruction of Avalon could be reversed¡ª


    ¡ªas long as he could sessfully create his first card.


    Currently, Aiwass was too weak. The only nearly Superior Phantom being he had mastered was the Shadow Demon.


    And the only card that could be made from extracting the Shadow Demon''s power was "The Moon."


    To create "The Moon Card," no matter how strong the sealed power of the card was, you needed a nail from the forehead of a criminal subjected to being drawn and quartered, and three ancient ropes from the gallows as materials.


    Aiwass solemnly sat at his desk, taking out a slightly darkened Tarot card from a jade box.


    These Tarot Cards, part of arge batch of mysterious items rted to various rituals that Aiwass fervently worshiped in the past, which he had no use for, now happened to be suitable for creating the Phantom Cards of the Master of Beasts.


    The Tarot card depicted a moon with two towers on either side. Beneath the moon there was a wolf and a dog, both howling madly at the moon. At the very center of the image, at the bottom, was a lobster climbing out of a river, looking up at the sky in confusion.


    This was "The Moon." The Moon card in Tarot divination symbolizes bewilderment, hardship, and unease.


    The creators of the Tarot, the Prophets from the Path of "Adaptation," scorned the Astrologers who belonged to the same Path andpared them to dogs barking at the moon¡ªbecause all Prophets agreed that the future was never precisely predictable, whereas Astrologers strove to create an borate, urate "Grand Unified Star Chart" that could predict all futures.


    This behavior wasughable in the eyes of the Prophets. It was as ridiculous as dogs barking at the moon, trying to figure out what it stood for. But it only exposed their ignorance and fearlessness.


    Aiwass held his breath, bing extremely careful.


    That''s because the "The Moon" on the Tarot card had been smeared with mercury by him. Using this as a medium, he infused three points of Dark Attribute Mana into it yesterday.


    The maximum capacity of Aiwass''s Dark Attribute Mana Pool was also only three points.


    And to create the most basic, weakest card, at least five points were required. No matter how strong the card to be made, the other materials used were the same, the only difference being the amount of gemstone powder used.


    ...Although creating such a weak card was somewhat wasteful of materials, seeding once to confirm feasibility was more important.


    Moreover, at worst, it''s a reusable Magic Scroll. Once the card waspleted, only one-tenth of Mana was needed to trigger it, any amount less than one point was considered zero. The only restriction was that only one Tarot-based card could be used per day. That means if Aiwass used this Moon Card, he wouldn''t be able to use another Moon Card for the rest of the day.


    But that did not matter.


    When it was no longer needed, he could simply sell it or give it away¡ªportable Magic Scrolls that could be triggered without Mana and automatically recharged daily would surely fetch a good price. From this perspective, these ritual materials weren''t really wasted.

 Chapter 12: 5 Enchantment Card: Blade of Shadows_4

    Aiwass had already infused his three points of Dark Attribute Mana into the card yesterday. It was for this reason that the card slightly darkened, not an illusion but because it was indeed weakly absorbing the surrounding light. If ced under the sunlight andpared with other objects, perhaps it would be more noticeable.


    Now, Aiwass''s Mana Pool was replenished and full.


    He touched the mercury-coated moon gently again, slowly infusing all three points of Dark Attribute Mana inside. A card crafted with six Mana Points would be slightly stronger than one with five.


    "What a pity..."


    Aiwass murmured in a low voice, "Let''s create one for now. The materials for the remaining three cards can wait until I have more Mana in the future."


    After the card had been infused with the minimum of five Mana Points, the ritual was immediately activated. If not crafted immediately, it would be wasted in an hour. Otherwise, Aiwass could even save up Mana day by day, possibly umting for ten days to craft a "Field Card: Shadow Cer" that would require thirty Mana Points.


    He could also infuse one more point today and then start crafting tomorrow with seven Mana Points.


    But from five to ten Mana Points, all that could be crafted were the weakest "Enchantment Card: de of Shadows." Hoarding one more point wouldn''t bring a qualitative change... Better to seize an extra day instead.


    Thinking so, he hammered the rusty nail forcefully into the tarot card.


    A creaking sound was heard, but the paper card emitted a strange, acidic noise. It was as if Aiwass wasn''t nailing it into a card but into someone''s skull.


    Straight after, he looped the three ropes into rings. They were draped over the nail from three angles, and the other ends of the ropes were nailed to three "Sword" cards with ordinary nails.


    The next moment, the ropes suddenly inted, swelling up. It seemed that they had not just had a nail hung on them, but as if they were strangling someone''s neck, abruptly changing from three ropes into a ring instead of a "V."


    Aiwass then evenly scattered the pre-ground ck pearl powder over the tarot card. The "Moon" card belonged to the domain of the "Path of Love." ck pearl was the guardian gemstone of the Path of Love, capable of attracting the gaze of the Pir God "Eternal Self."


    A mere nce¡ªeven just a fleeting one¡ªwas enough to imbue the card with spirit.


    Afterpleting what he needed to do, Aiwass remained still in his spot.


    The shadows beneath him rose like wisps of smoke, merging into the card. The painting on the tarot card continually transformed, as though another artist was revising it.


    When the alteration of the image ceased, the nail also slowly melted away. It became a new "Moon," while two of the ropes merged into two new "Dark Towers," transforming into jackal-headed figures holding scepters. The remaining rope took the ce of the original lobster, bing a ck scarab.


    The card automatically floated up, flying into Aiwass''s hand.


    The card''s attributes appeared automatically in his eyes:


    [Enchantment: de of Shadows (Moon)]


    [Required: Darkness 0]


    [Instant, Contact, Immediate Effect]


    [Effect: Temporarily grants the target "Weapon" shadow, cutting, and corrosion properties, considered an Extraordinary Weapon. Duration: one minute (+20%)]


    It''s done.


    Aiwass thought to himself.

 Chapter 13: 6: Copy: Sin Nexus Pelican Bar

    Early the next morning, Inspector Hayna went to Moriarty Manor with the authorization from the Supervisory Bureau.


    Clearly, she had learned her lesson from yesterday.


    After a quick breakfast, Hayna immediately hurried over, even arriving before seven o''clock.


    At that time, Mr. Aiwass had not yet risen, so the butler Oswald could only settle her in the parlor and have the maids serve her some tea and pastries.


    It wasn''t until Aiwass had gotten up, washed, and finished breakfast that Oswald informed him that Inspector Hayna had been waiting in the parlor.


    "...You''vee so early, senpai. Wasn''t the agreed time half past nine?"


    Aiwass sat in his wheelchair, which Oswald slowly pushed into the parlor.


    The moment he entered, he saw Hayna dressed in "formal attire."


    Completely different from her attire the previous day, Hayna was now wrapped in a two-piece suit of leather armor.


    However, this leather armor was closer to a uniform than protective gear. It didn''tpletely cover all skin, but even so, it could still provide some protective function. Yet, its meaning seems to be more ritualistic than practical.


    "Armor" is sacred in the Kingdom of Avalon.


    In the Kingdom of Avalon, the main power hierarchies are divided into "Knights" and the civil system of "Civil Servants". Aside from hereditary Knight Families who could enter the Senate, this also includes Inspectors, Arbiters, and the entire cavalry system. Only "Knights" are allowed to don armor, andwmakers must be fully armored when entering the Senate; entering the Senate in ordinary clothes is seen as a provocation to the authority of the Round Table Hall.


    Apart from knights, anyone who wears or even owns armor could be directly sentenced to the severe punishment of capital execution. Even for Knight Families, the children of the house head cannot wear their parents'' armor without the Queen''s authorization.


    For this reason, just seeing someone in armor on the street allows one to directly recognize their identity. One could even discern their rank from the specification of the armor¡ªthe more inconvenient it is to move, the sturdier the material, the more majestic the appearance, the closer to silver-white in color it is, the higher their status.


    This knowledge did note from gaming experience... after all, the Kingdom of Avalon fell too early. The understanding of this aspect is entirely from Little Aiwass''s memories andmon knowledge.


    Aiwass could tell that Hayna''s armor was brand new. He could even smell a hint of oil on it.


    For that reason, Hayna didn''t dare to sit on the furniture from the Moriarty Family. She perched carefully on the edge of the sofa, sitting up straight, as if fearing that soiling it would make her unwee.


    "It''s better to be early thante."


    Upon seeing Aiwass, Hayna breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly stood up from the soft sofa, "Don''t worry, Mr. Aiwass. I can operate on a schedule that''s convenient for you¡ªthat''s what the bureau requires."


    Aiwass raised his eyebrows.


    Last time she was two and a half hourste, this time she was three hours early...


    "I feel like you''re a bit extreme," he said.


    "What?" Hayna seemed puzzled.


    "Never mind," Aiwass said with a slight smile, "The armor looks nice."


    "It was specially approved for me by the bureau!"


    Hearing this, Hayna instantly perked up, "My equipment and Gryphon have already been approved, but it''s currently in transit. The chief said it might take another two months to receive.


    "But, because I reported your situation, the chief thought that if something happened to you, it would trouble the Supervisory Bureau, but disagreeing would also cause problems. And sending a lot of people to follow you might make you unhappy; but if I let you get into trouble, the problems would be even greater. So the chief exceptionally approved my armor and sword in advance!"


    As she spoke, Hayna cheerfully tapped the sword she had ced on the table.


    Aiwass followed her gaze.


    It was a leaf-shaped shortsword with a scabbard gleaming with a silver sheen. About twenty-four inches long, or sixty centimeters, the scabbard was etched with beautiful thorn patterns, and nestled among them were red, green, and blue grains of ss, the size of sand particles, dazzling under the reflection of the sunlight from outside. It was evident at a nce that this was very typical Elven Style¡ªwhether functional or not was a different matter, but it sure was good-looking.


    Because the sword''s appearance was so striking, it didn''t quite match the somewhat simplistic leather armor on Hayna. Instead, it blended seamlessly with the Elven Style ornaments in Aiwass''s home.


    It made Aiwass first think that it was one of his family''s artistic pieces.


    If it''s something you brought, then it''s fine.


    "I will definitely protect you well!" Hayna said with utmost determination.


    Her calloused fingers carefully brushed over the thorny pattern on the scabbard. Once she held the sword, a confident aura suddenly burst forth from her.


    Different from the timid, clumsy, cautious demeanor ofst night, her entire temperament changed. Even her eyes brightened up.


    As an analogy, it was like the difference between a horror game yer without a gun and one who has just obtained a firearm.


    Aiwass watched Hayna''s eyes deeply, falling silent and reflective.


    He could tell that she obviously hadn''t slept wellst night¡ªshe was too excited to rest peacefully.


    Of course, part of the excitement came from early contact with her own sword. But a bigger thrill, perhaps,y in her belief that she could finally "show her mettle."

 Chapter 14: 6 Copy: Sin Nexus Pelican Bar_2

    After yesterday''s test, today''s interactions, and investigating her background, Aiwass had already roughly figured out and organized Hayna''s thought processes.


    She was clearly not very bright; once things gotplicated, she would get toozy to think logically. At the same time, she must havee from a poor background but possessed a Transcendent talent in her own field¡ªlike swordsmanship¡ªthat she could be proud of. As a result, her personality tended to be stubborn, favoring her own intuitive judgments over hesitation, reflection, andplex analysis.


    In short, she was a kind of "Martial Fool".


    Since she truly came from humble origins, and as a vige girl who never dressed up, her appearance naturally couldn''tpare to the delicatedies of the Royal Capital. This resulted in a subtle, self-unrecognized inferiorityplex.


    This inferiority would transform into a sense of aggression and hostility towards those "of higher status" than herself. But at the same time, she was afraid of causing trouble for herself because of herck of background, so it wouldn''t manifest as concrete words or actions. However, it could still be revealed through attitudes under pressure and instinctive reactions when making choices.


    Because of her straightforward personality, more approachable background, and excellent achievements, as well as a wisdom for survival that avoided offending others easily, she would be quite popr in a school setting, especially among the rtively simple-minded students¡ªyet her initial contact with society led to repeated setbacks, which could easily confuse her and even make her susceptible to maniption, or lead her down the wrong path in life.


    This was precisely the moment she felt perplexed.


    This kind of person was entirely exploitable.


    The weakness and helplessness that Aiwass had shown when he first met her yesterday were carefully selected postures intended to attract her immediately, after he had reviewed Hayna''s information in advance.


    The act of "reading poetry" subconsciously suggested to others that the person was sedentary. His wheelchair further reinforced this notion of "stillness", thus avoiding a direct challenge from Hayna in areas where she was confident, such as "movement", "physical ability", "swordsmanship", preventing him from instantly arousing herpetitive spirit or attention.


    Aiwass had looked in a mirror, and his aesthetics were normal. He was certainly aware of the attractiveness of his current body.


    So, with this foundation, Aiwass had beforehand instructed a personal maid to apply makeup to him, creating a countenance that appeared weak and pale from blood loss. The appropriately adjusted firece provided a sense of rxation, while its light offered a warm filter for Aiwass.


    In this way, Aiwass''s image would trigger Hayna''s protective instincts, at least not inciting her hostility due to his origins. An "injured", "handsome", and "weak" superior appeared to bepletely under her control, making her "hope" that Aiwass was good. As a result, he would not be an adversary.


    Up to this point, Hayna''s instincts would tell her not to investigate any further. Her work experience was not rich enough, and her actions were easily driven by emotion. Once she had given herself an answer, what followed was merely looking for evidence to back up that answer.


    However, when a person''s impression is too strong, their image tends to be abstracted and reduced to one aspect in the memory.


    If Hayna were to feel too positively about Aiwass, then when Aiwass did something unexpected, she would be "disappointed on her own".


    It was for this reason that Aiwass needed to do some things in advance to make his first impression not so positive or perfect. Therefore, he took advantage of Hayna beingte, telling her some truths she did not wish to believe, thereby making her feel attacked by him.


    In fact, Hayna, who was in the wrong from the start, actually expected Aiwass to attack her. This would allow her to rx a bit more.


    After interpreting Aiwass''s strange words as an attack, she would subconsciously discard their possibilities, and upon Aiwass presenting an eptable possibility, she would immediately cling to it. This would reduce her own sense of guilt and alleviate psychological stress.


    Today and in the future, she could be a very reliable bodyguard for him.


    After their interaction yesterday, Hayna would believe they had be friends. And she urgently needed to showcase her proudest skill¡ªher swordsmanship¡ªin front of this new friend of noble identity, innocence, gentleness, and artistic and weak beauty.


    If she could truly demonstrate this skill, she would feel that she "has shown her proudest strength", thereby hoping to gain Aiwass''s affirmation.


    If Aiwass affirmed her in this regard and expressed his genuine need for her help, such a request would greatly satisfy her social needs.


    In that case, Aiwass, who was initially a suspect and met with her caution and defense, could turn into her good friend after just a day''s encounter, and naturally bring Aiwass into her social circle at school.


    Even though taking advantage of a young girl who had just graduated made Aiwass feel somewhat guilty.


    This was his debt.


    Aiwass never liked to owe people favors. Once he owed something, he would immediately look for ways to repay it.


    Otherwise, after a few exchanges, it would be easy to get close with others. And having "friends" is a very dangerous thing; often, one may be dragged into dangerous situations in an attempt to help friends, and also easily betrayed by friends due to lowered guard.

 Chapter 15: 6: Copy - Sin Nexus Pelican Bar_3

    Aiwass had never liked getting too close to others.


    ¡ª¡ªThat only made him feel tense, ufortable.


    It was better for both parties to maintain a rtionship of mutual assistance and utilization. Staying within a healthy, efficient, and sustainable business rtionship meant there was no sorrow over betrayal by the other party, no resentment for being abandoned... Likewise, there was no hesitation and guilt when preparing to betray another.


    Aiwass''s current predecessor was just such an example.


    Because of excessive enthusiasm and naivety, trusting pen friends and regarding them as friends, indeed, came at a heavy price.


    But paying back a favor was a very simple matter for him.


    In Aiwass''s memory, there was no name "Hayna" in the game. Without a doubt, she must have been the one who died in battle when Avalon was invaded in the game''s first version.


    Aiwass did not save Avalon for her sake, he did it for the stability of his own life. Therefore, saving her in the process could hardly be considered a repayment of a favor.


    But given Hayna''s character, insights, and abilities, there must be many scoundrels in the school with intentions as dark as his own attempting to be her fake friends. Aiwass could easily identify those people and then help her distinguish the true friends who were trustworthy and less likely to betray.


    He was very skilled at analyzing others.


    If anything, the HR profession did have a slight resemnce to the East Factory in nature.


    It required not only a discerning eye and objective attitude but also enough ruthlessness to take tough actions.


    A light hook meant someone was "eliminated," losing their job, and seeing their sry reduced... and this was precisely Aiwass''s own upation.


    It could be said to be a very unscrupulous profession.


    Basically, if you were a corporate drone, the odds were high that your hatred for HR would be maxed out.


    Aiwass had just experienced three full years of unemployment not long ago.


    He had found a job, but before officially starting, he came to this world threatened by an uncertain future.


    Even though he appeared calm andposed, he had already conducted a psychological analysis on himself¡ªhe felt a strong sense of instability now.


    He was very satisfied with his current life, but he was also acutely aware of the impending disaster.


    He desperately hoped for a stable life, did not want to be a national refugee, homeless, wandering everywhere.


    Tobat the fear of the future from this world, he had to climb up as quickly and as much as possible. In this way, he could grasp some power within the kingdom of Avalon. At the very least, he could not allow his teammates to drag him down when he was left alone to face the world''s great enemies.


    It was not a case of victim paranoia.


    Aiwass was certain.


    His vision was longer than that of the vast majority of the people in this world, their decisions based on known information were certainly imperfect, notprehensive. And Aiwass could not easily reveal the prophecies of the future he had received¡ªhe was not a Saint. This Prophet''s information could be his precious treasure.


    Because of this, Aiwass needed to gain sufficient influence.


    Not the name "Knight" of his foster father. That was only a nominal position, and even entering the senate meant a game of wits with a bunch of old, sophisticated folks, making any action sticky like syrup, unable to unfold freely.


    The feeling of life drifting with the tide, fate not under one''s own control... It was unbearable.


    What Aiwass wanted was to make those in power consult his opinion before making decisions. He could not be one of them, and it was best not to get close to any faction. He could not be the sacrifice in internal power struggles... but had to be an existence even higher than theirs.


    Not to control others, but to ensure he was not controlled.


    To ensure he was not sacrificed, nor did he have to sacrifice others.


    Aiwass vaguely remembered that this incident would eventually involve a certain minister.


    In the original history, it was the yer who gained high prestige by resolving this incident.


    Without the presence of a yer character in this world, he had to join the investigation of this incident.


    Luckily, thanks to Toyulia''s favor¡ªalthough Aiwass still skipped the plot animation, he remembered some details. For instance, where the crucial intelligence was, what enemies were in thest instance they opened, and their level.


    Because after a messy investigation, the first instance of this game would be unlocked:


    The level 10 instance, "Sin Nexus Pelican Bar."

 Chapter 16: 7: Armed with a Powerful Weapon, the Urge to Kill Arises

    Oswald did not offer to apany her.


    Clearly, although he did not have a high opinion of his student''s concept of time and intelligence, he had great trust in her martial prowess. This also confirmed Aiwass''s judgment.


    Although he could not see Hayna''s attribute panel, just thinking about it told him... After all, she was among the best batch of elite students in the nation''s top Transcendent school. Lacking resources and early education, being able to keep up with, and even stand out from, the country''s elites in ss had already proven her talent.


    Despite her self-satisfaction of having be an Inspector of the Royal Capital before graduation, it actually wasn''t all that impressive.


    The Supervisory Bureau, albeit abat-rted profession, did not hold a very high status. They mostly dealt with civil cases. Their main responsibilities were patrolling the streets, maintaining public order, inspecting whether businesses met safety standards, investigating rtively simple Transcendent cases, processing public usations, dispersing illegal gatherings, arresting low-level Transcendents, and so on.


    In the face of formidable foes such as enemy nation spies, high-level Transcendents, or cultists, it would be up to the Supervisory Court to take action; and when members of the Knight Familiesmitted serious crimes, it would be the Arbitration Hall, the highest authority, that would intervene.


    "Arbitrators" started at career level thirty, and all of them were young Knight senators who could enter the Round Table Hall. They were extremely wealthy, fully equipped, and experienced, constituting Avalon''s highest level of elite troops. A notch above them were the few top-notch powerhouses.


    Although Hayna did not have a distinguished background or any significant connections, and even appeared clumsy and simple due to ack of experience and training before her graduation,


    Based on Aiwass''s experience, having no background or connections and being forthright and ingenuous might not be a bad thing, given her sufficient personal strength.


    Now she was ced in a district Supervisory Bureau as a front-line Inspector to rapidly umte experience, and also to lower her personal expectations. Hayna was clueless about her own value, and if she adapted to a job that clearly didn''t match her education and abilities, then her leader who promoted her "out of turn" would be a person to be grateful to.


    After a few years, as she became exposed to society and gained sufficient work experience, and her career level as a Transcendent also increased, she could at least secure a position from district bureau chief upwards before the age of thirty.


    If things went smoothly, there was a chance to join the Supervisory Court by the age of thirty. Making it into the Round Table and receiving an armor from the Queen before forty wasn''t impossible either.


    Aiwass estimated her career level to be around twenty.


    That is, she had the power of a Transcendent around the second or even third energy level ¨C at least ten or more levels higher than himself.


    With a level twenty big ount to lead, clearing a level ten dungeon shouldn''t be a problem.


    Just in case, Oswald also gave Aiwass a handgun to be used for self-defense in emergency situations.


    It was a delicatedy''s pistol.


    Its design was simr to Hayna''s shortsword, with a filigreed silver thorn motif on the casing. It was only about the size of a palm, not themon revolver of the era, but a pneumatic magazine pistol.


    [Grip of the Lady +2]


    [Finely Crafted Weapon (Deep Blue)]


    [Firearm, Semi-automatic Pistol, Capacity Five Rounds]


    [8 mm Bullets (5/5)]


    [Trait: Its weight and volume are only 60% of other pistols with the same firepower]


    [Elven Style: Significantly reduced failure rate, increased maintenance cost]


    [Module ¨C Graceful Aim: Extrarge increase in uracy]


    [Module ¨C Featherlight Shooting: Additional reduction in recoil]


    ¡ª¡ªThat''ll do.


    Ady''s pistol, then. So be it.


    Initially wanting to refuse, Aiwass happily epted it after seeing the attributes.


    A Finely Crafted Weapon was the highest grade a mortal craftsman could achieve!


    It was only one level below the purple Extraordinary Weapons, which required the use of Transcendent power to create.


    Who needs a bicycle?


    In the game, it was only after level thirty that dungeons would reliably drop blue gear. As for purple Extraordinary Weapons, they had to be crafted through ritual spells and alchemy or dropped from defeating high-level Transcendents.


    Not to mention that the gun''s modules were quite good ¨C with blue equipment, only the trait and style are fixed, the other one to three random attributes could be positive or negative.


    Two positive attributes, and pairing "recoil" with "precision" at that... This was a tool-type weapon useful even in the mid-tote game, at least for rapidly firing special effect bullets and ritual bullets that didn''t require high damage.


    Even higher-level pistols would certainly do more damage, but they might not be as urate as this one.


    However, as Aiwass was leaving, Oswald suddenly called out to him.


    "The master said to remember to wear this, and put on the cloak," Oswald said, handing Aiwass a ck neck brace and a ck hooded cloak.


    Aiwass pinched the neck brace and quickly recognized its material: "Asbestos?"


    "The Strangler Party has been rampanttely. If you n to leave the White Queen District, it''s wise to wear a protective neck brace against strangtion," Oswald said with utter seriousness, like a tall and lean specter. "They act quickly, and Lady Hayna may not always be able to protect you. And the hood is to conceal your identity ¨C to prevent those with ulterior motives from memorizing your face."

 Chapter 17: 7: Armed with a Sharp Tool, the Urge to Kill Arises_2

    Aiwass somewhat reluctantly put it on.


    He had heard of the Strangler Party.


    It was an upgraded version of robbers.


    To leave no survivors who could trace them and also to increase work efficiency, they would suddenly emerge when passersby crossed sparsely popted areas or alley entrances, strangling their victims with a thin rope and dragging them into the shadows. After sessfully strangling their prey, they would strip everything of value from the body.


    It was not easy for citizens to report such crimes immediately, or even to find the bodies. Because the Strangler Party killed directly instead of subduing or intimidating the victims, it also prevented the possibility of being counter-killed by low-level Transcendents.


    Although asbestos is carcinogenic... life is more important after all. And it''s not like I have to be exposed to it for a long time.


    It''s just that my level is too low.


    If I were at level twenty or thirty now, why would I fear those petty thieves?


    Watching Aiwass put on the neck protector and drape a ck cloak over himself, the old butler then handed Aiwass a thick stack of banknotes, "This is the investigation fund provided by the master. It''s just the first investigation, so you probably won''t need too much."


    Aiwass could clearly hear, Hayna beside him let out a soft hiss.


    He counted briefly. There were twenty silver-white, slightly reflectiverge bills, each stamped with crossing rods and a sword, and in front of themy a white crown. This symbolized the god of authority, the "Silver-Crowned Dragon".


    There were also twenty red  bills of medium size. Ten of them showed five red candles and the number "5"; the other ten depicted just one candle and the number "1". These represented the deity of the Path of Devotion, also the god served by the Church, the "Candle Master".


    This was Avalon Kingdom''s unique currency, which could also circte in other countries.


    The purchasing power of a "White Crown" is approximately equivalent to 1,000 RMB, as it can be exchanged for  twenty "Red Candle" bills with a value of 1. Meanwhile, a "Red Candle" with a value of 1 can be exchanged for ten of the lowest denomination, brownish bills called "Copper Hourss", the symbol of the Path of Bnce deity.


    In the Avalon Kingdom, only the extraordinary professions from these three Paths are legal.


    Therefore, the value of a copper coin is roughly equivalent to 5 RMB, and a "Red Coin" with a value of 1 is equivalent to 50 RMB.


    Ordering a roast beef in a restaurant is about six Copper Hourss bills, and smoked pork is two copper coins. A brand-new and durable outfit, not including leather shoes, costs about seven "Red Coins".


    "Remember to separate the Red Coins and White Coins. It''s best to keep them in three different pockets."


    Oswald cautioned, "If you can pay the bill using only low-denomination Red Coins, do not carelessly show that you have arge number of White Coins in hand¡ªyou are not mobile now, and you have no servant apanying you. You might attract more attention. Those ''White Crown'' notes are for bribing high-value targets, and you should use them as little as possible.


    "If the Red Coins are not enough, you can go to the bank and exchange the White Coins for Red Coins. If you''re really worried about making a mistake, Ms. Hayna can hold them for you."


    "I''m not a ''miss''..."


    Hayna said softly, yet she did not refuse.


    And without hesitation, Aiwass stuffed the whole stack of White Coins into her hand, "You hold onto them."


    Even though she was only holding the money temporarily, she still felt excited about having such arge amount of cash in hand.


    In terms of quantity, twenty White Coins wasn''t all that much. The tuition fee for one semester at the Royal Law University was a full sixteen White Crowns¡ªshe had handled that much money before! At least during her first two semesters of freshman year, when tuition was scraped together by her family. It was starting from her sophomore year that she obtained a schrship that covered her tuition.


    Moreover, they usually would not use White Crown Coins for payments in their daily lives. The mostmonly used denominations were copper and Red Coins, and even just holding the White Coins felt so unfamiliar to her.


    But what really made her nervous was the fear that she might identally lose the money.


    Indeed, she had lost money before. As a child, she lost her tuition money by carelessly running around on the street... which resulted in her mother crying that day. It was not a heart-wrenching cry, but a silent one, with her mother quietly wiping her tears away.


    But that scene was deeply etched in Hayna''s heart.


    Since then, she never ran wildly on the streets again. Whenever she wanted to run, it felt like her legs were weighed down with heavy weights.


    She carefully searched her pockets a few times before finding one that she felt somewhat secure to put the money in. But she dared not take her hand away, instead, she half-protected the pocket with her elbow, asionally needing to use her hand to make sure the money was still there. Her other hand rested beside her treasured short sword.


    With this vignt posture, she pushed Aiwass''s wheelchair away from Moriarty Manor.


    "Where are we going?"


    She asked Aiwass subconsciously, "To the warehouse where the incident happened the day before yesterday? Or to Stone Arch Gate Park?"


    "¡ªNo."


    Noticing Hayna''s stance, Aiwass let out a gentle breath.


    "Those ces have been thoroughly searched. Any information to be gained you must have already found."


    "We''re heading east, to the Pelican Bar," Aiwass said.


    "...What''s that?" Hayna obviously did not recognize the ce name.


    Or rather, apart from the two streets around the Red Queen District where the university was located and the single route from the White Queen District Inspection Bureau to Moriarty Manor where she now worked, she was unfamiliar with any other area of the Royal Capital.


    Her monthly allowance of 50 Red Candles, which was equivalent to aborer''s monthly wage, did not leave her the luxury to roam around the Royal Capital freely.

 Chapter 18: 7: Armed with a Sharp Weapon, the Urge to Kill Arises_3

    "In Lohar District."


    "Lohar District? By the harbor?"


    Hayna''s expression changed, and she suddenly remembered the name of this bar.


    She had indeed heard of this bar''s name before!


    When she first came to the Royal Capital, a good friend had advised her not to venture into Lohar District for no reason; she trusted her friend, so even when her roommate often excited her to visit the bars in Lohar District, she was very firm in her resolve never to go.


    Of course, part of the reason was that she really didn''t have the money, and she was too embarrassed to let her friends treat her.


    Since she had decided not to go, she automatically blocked out those words in her mind. She feared that, if she listened too much, she might identally be tempted.


    Hayna remembered that the name she heard most was "Old Captain Bar." It was a frequent spot for sailors on leave from the kingdom to drink, where her peers liked to search for handsome men¡ªyoung, strong, good-looking, and who hadn''t seen women for a long time while at sea. They were an easy catch.


    One of her roommates even got herself a young sailor as a boyfriend. He was said to be a sergeant, always boasting about being on some secret mission... whether that was true or not, who could say?


    If it were truly a secret, would he be telling it to college girls?


    Hayna was quite skeptical.


    In the small town where she was born, the cksmith uncle would always boast about having spent time in the Royal Capital, iming to be knowledgeable and cultured.


    Later, when she arrived in the Royal Capital herself, she found out that "having spent time" meant he hade here as an apprentice to learn his trade when he was in his early teens, but he ran away after a few years because he couldn''t stick it out.


    His boasting manner was exactly like that sailor''s.


    And that roommate of hers had mentioned "Pelican Bar" only once. Hayna remembered it vividly because it was the only time that girl''s face didn''t have that cheap, sly grin; instead, she was very serious and earnest.


    She said at the time that she was going... to buy some materials.


    Pelican Bar... was it a ce that sold materials?


    Hayna felt a surge of curiosity, but didn''t voice it.


    Instinctively, she sensed it was something bad and didn''t dare to mention it at Moriarty Manor¡ªespecially under the watchful eye of the Elf Butler.


    For a moment, Hayna felt a stir of excitement. She had never dared to visit such ces before, partly because of the cost and partly due to the danger.


    But now, she had grown stronger. Draped in armor that represented the glory of Justice, with Aiwass holding the investigative funds¡ªshe could finally visit the ces she was curious about but never had the chance to see!


    After all, this was her first independent investigation. Hayna had no investigative strategy; her mention of the warehouse and stone archway was simply because those were the locations she happened to remember.


    Even Director Kent hadn''t asked her to obtain any critical intelligence from this investigation, but rather to protect Aiwass and not be reckless.


    ¡ªOf course, she would protect him! She would do so without being told!


    "Lohar District it is then, let''s go!"


    Hayna readily agreed, "I''ll protect you¡ªshould any blind thief dare to trouble you, I''ll show him what legal and righteous punishment is!"


    Only when talking about this topic did her voice ring out loud and clear... even eager.


    With a weapon in hand, the intent to kill arises naturally.


    All this was within Aiwass''s expectations.


    Having trained for so long and risen to such a level without ever truly facing an enemy... a bit of excitement was normal.


    "So, are you ready to kill, senior?"


    Aiwass''s eyes narrowed like a fox, his mouth curling into a smile that could be either good-natured or mocking.


    Hayna paused at his words.


    Then, she spoke gravely, "Actually, I''ve already killed someone."


    Oh?


    Aiwass raised an eyebrow.


    This was an unexpected answer.


    "Then let''s go."


    He didn''t interrogate further, simply said softly, "My legs aren''t good, so I''ll trouble you to push me there."


    "Of course."


    Hayna breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed.

 Chapter 19: 8 Hayna Wants to Hear a Secret

    Mr. Aiwass sat securely in his wheelchair, gently pushed along by Inspector Hayna from behind.


    The sensation was veryfortable¡ªespecially considering that Mr. Aiwass actually had no problems with his legs, it suddenly felt even better.


    He even closed his eyes, luxuriating in the early winter sun, drowsy and close to falling asleep.


    For a moment, he had the illusion that he had aged into retirement, taken out for a walk and sunbathing by his own daughter.


    Wrapped in a ck cloak, Mr. Aiwass only revealed half his chin, quietly observing his surroundings.


    Therefore, Mr. Aiwass clearly observed an interesting phenomenon: the pedestrians walking near Moriarty Manor, upon seeing Inspector Hayna in her inspector''s attire, felt no fear at all.


    They merely nced her way and continued on as usual.


    But as they left the White Queen District and gradually entered the Lohar District toward the southeast¡­ the situation began to change.


    The looks pedestrians gave Inspector Hayna turned increasingly fearful. They would deliberately avoid her path well in advance, and some would even stop and step aside over ten meters away, cautiously making way for Inspector Hayna.


    When Inspector Hayna entered a fresh market, a terrifying solemnity rapidly spread among the crowd with her at the center. Once residents realized that an inspector was pushing some important figure through, the somewhat crowded tide of people automatically parted to either side.


    It was a miracle akin to Moses parting the sea¡ªalthough the crowd was noisy and packed shoulder to shoulder, the wheelchair beneath Mr. Aiwass never once stopped moving. No one dared to block his path or strike up a conversation, not even daring to speak loudly, lest they disturb the mysterious figure wrapped so snugly.


    Even the residents previously engaged in shopping stopped their transactional chatter. They looked on with curiosity and a bit of fear as Mr. Aiwass slowly passed through the crowd, watching him¡­ until they left the market.


    "Do you see, Hayna?"


    After that, Mr. Aiwass closed his eyes, his body rxed slightly as he leaned back, speaking softly, "People are very afraid of you."


    "I don''t understand why."


    Hayna did not attempt to conceal her voice, and her words did not waver in the slightest: "People without guilt have no reason to fear us.


    "Everyone knows that in Avalon, ''rules'' are essential¡ªit''s not a secret butmon knowledge known by all. As such, one must not break the rules or vite thew. I don''t understand what they are afraid of."


    As she said this, she stood tall and straight. Her eyes zed like fire.


    Mr. Aiwass was somewhat surprised.


    "I thought you would sympathize with them," Mr. Aiwass said.


    "Why should I?"


    Hayna countered: "Did I do something wrong? Or is it just because Ie from a poor background?"


    ¡­In matters of her background, she seemed a bit too sensitive.


    Mr. Aiwass realized that Hayna didn''t wish to discuss this subject. Yet even so, she didn''t end this unpleasant topic.


    "Yes, my family is poor. But my parents told me since I was a child to be an upright person¡ªabide by thew, loyal to the Queen, honest to my mentors. Though I have no money, I have nevermitted even a petty theft."


    Hayna''s voice was filled with strong confidence as she spoke: "I will not require others to be like me, because not everyone believes in the way of Authority. But I will do my utmost to bind my own actions¡ªnot because I am forced, but because I willingly do so.


    "Nowadays, I devote myself to obeying my superiors, carrying out every order within the rules they give; but should the daye when I rank above him, then he must also obey me in the same manner.


    "This is the way of ''Authority.'' The rules of Avalon."


    Mr. Aiwass understood.


    This was the anchor that allowed Hayna to maintain her self-respect and confidence at the Royal Law University.


    The reason she was able to step onto the path of ''Authority'' so early was that she hade to understand the essence of the way of Authority. One could even say that from a very young age, she had been intentionally or unintentionally nurtured and guided onto this path by her parents.


    She was born for this.


    For in this world, the extraordinary professions are, in a sense, a projection of "thought," "philosophy," and "personality." They are the traces of power seeping from the nine grand Paths.


    Even those high and immortal gods are merely the forerunners of these "Paths."


    To step into the nine grand Paths requires one to thoroughly understand andmit to walking that path. One who does not understand, or does not agree with, ''what is Dedication,'' cannot step onto the Path of Dedication; one who does not know what is art, what is beauty, cannot walk the Path of Beauty.


    Though the Kingdom of Avalon emphasizes "rules" and upholds w," they are not actually pursuing legal principles for "fairness" and "justice."


    Thew is just a tool of the Path of Authority. And now the still na?ve Hayna, has instinctively grasped this most crucial core idea, without deviating from it.


    "It''s not easy, senior,"


    A thought crossed Mr. Aiwass''s mind, his lips curling into a slight smile as he emitted a gentle voice: "I hadn''t expected you to have such ambition."


    "¡­What ambition?"


    Hayna hadn''t even realized what she had inadvertently said just a moment ago.


    "To be the boss of your boss, or even climb higher..."


    Mr. Aiwass said leisurely, "That''s not a concept of the Path of Authority."


    "¡ªI didn''t expect you to be a follower of the Path of Transcendence as well."


    Upon hearing this, Hayna was suddenly startled, even pausing for a moment while pushing the wheelchair.


    "What, what?"


    "Howe, you haven''t realized it yourself?"


    Mr. Aiwass countered.


    His fingers interlocked beneath his overcoat, he whispered seductively, "But it''s actually quite normal.


    "Senior, I don''t know what you learned at the university. However, everyone is mortal. No one can remain unswayed from their Path... for instance, the Path of Love, the Path of Wisdom, the Path of Dedication.


    "Won''t you fall for someone? Savage, beastly impulses, the urge to procreate... that is the influence of the Path of Love. Every teenager is affected by it.


    "Simrly, the hallmark of the Path of Wisdom is utilitarian thinking, or the pursuit of truth; and if you decide to sacrifice your life for others, then you''ve stepped into the Path of Dedication, under the watch of the Candle Master. The nine Pathways are the inevitable modes of thinking for humanity, and each person will lean towards one, their actions more or less aligning with it.


    "Besides zealots, how many can staypletely true to their Path?


    "¡ªIf that is the case, then what is so frightening about deviating from your Path?"


    Mr. Aiwass''s voice was low yet clear in Hayna''s ear: "Have you thought about this issue, Senior? Why does Avalon follow the Path of Authority?"


    She only felt itchy in her ears, and her back followed suit. Blood rushed to her head, and even the lobes of her ears grew hot.


    It wasn''t embarrassment but excitement and fear.


    "Please, a little quieter, Mr. Aiwass¡ª"


    She lowered her voice, speaking softly.


    She was too afraid of being overheard discussing such heretical ideas... but from another perspective, she was somewhat curious.


    Something inside her itched to hear more.


    These were things no one would discuss with her at home or at school... even if they had, she wouldn''t have deigned to listen. But now, already feeling a sense of agreement as if she had thought this way all along.


    Under this conflicted mindset, she had even started referring to Aiwass, who was four years her junior, with a respectful title like "Mr."


    That''s why she subconsciously said "please, a little quieter" instead of "please, do not speak anymore."


    But at that moment, Mr. Aiwass instead closed his mouth with a smile, as if he was a viin hum-humming with suppressedughter.


    Listening to the softughter of Mr. Aiwass in the wheelchair, Hayna felt her ears, neck, and back stop itching¡ªnow her teeth began to itch with irritation.


    Why did you stop halfway through? So why after all!?


    But Hayna didn''t dare admit she wanted to listen¡ªthere was no doubt that would be disloyal.


    ¡ªCan''t you just keep speaking on your own?


    I''m just trying to persuade you a bit, if it doesn''t work, then I won''t insist, okay?!


    "When the time is right," Mr. Aiwass said, "I''ll tell you."


    "So when is the right time¡ª"


    "It''s simple."


    Mr. Aiwass replied: "After we''ve resolved this matter, after we''ve reunited from the university... I''ll find a quiet ce to continue telling you.


    "You understand, right? This kind of secret shouldn''t be discussed in public."


    "¡ªAlright!"


    Hayna said confidently, "You don''t have to tell me, I will help you catch the criminal.


    "At that time, I want to hear the rest of the story you haven''t finished!"


    Somehow, she no longer cared whether she had deviated from the Path of Authority.


    Maybe she had always known in her heart she was off the Path, it was just now that she was willing to admit it to herself.


    And yet, she hadn''t realized something¡ª


    That was, without being aware of it, her reason for wanting to arrest the criminal had shifted from "orders from the Supervisory Bureau" to "helping Mr. Aiwass catch the criminal." But she remainedpletely oblivious.

 Chapter 20: 9 Yes, I like children

    Two hours had passed on their journey, and Hayna had not felt the slightest fatigue.


    As they left the Red-White Queen District at the center of the capital "ss Ind", the number of smoke-belching factories and speeding trains gradually increased.


    The choking fog mixed with the fishy smell of seafood, the whistle of steam mingled with the hawker''s shouts.


    The scent of baking bread from the street-side bakery wafted over as people in thick overcoats and top hats walked by.


    A destitute painter wearing a beret sat at the street''s edge, sketching the dark high-rise buildings across the street, along with the serpentine metal pipes coiling around the exteriors of the factories; Meanwhile, an inspector d in silvery white armor soared past on the back of a grand and majestic white Gryphon, two meters tall, high above.


    A red-haired newsboy around eleven or twelve, carrying two bundles of newspapers, shouted at the street corner:


    "ss Staircase Daily headlines today! Bishop Mathers of the Red Queen Diocese was recently appointed as Clergy Councilor by Her Majesty the Queen! The number of clergy councilors from the church has now increased to six!"


    "The Minister of Finance ns to tax matches and kerosenemps next year! The Star Antimony Kingdom expels three Knights of Avalon for charges of murder, espionage, and interference in internal affairs, Her Majesty the Queen expresses strong condemnation!"


    Most copies of the ss Staircase Daily had been sold, with only a few remaining. The ropes had to be tightened again and again to prevent them from slipping off the shoulder.


    As for the other bundle of newspapers behind the newsboy, less than a quarter had been sold.


    He yelled with his somewhat cracked lips: "Lohar Union Weekly, only five Red Coins a copy¡ªThe day of execution is drawing near, the list of convicts sentenced to death in November has been confirmed! Thirty-eight people will be executed this month, it''s the second highest in the past three years, with a definitive list of the condemned!


    "The third apprentice recruitment round for Nikast''s ster Factory in the Port District lowers the age requirement to fourteen!"


    "A painter in Green Flute Streetmitted suicide at homest week! Lohar Harbor Bank was robbed yesterday, and all the thieves have been arrested! Come and take a look! Only five Red Coins a copy¡ª"


    "Senior Sister."


    Aiwass suddenly spoke, "Buy me two newspapers."


    "Hmm?"


    Hayna paused, "Shouldn''t someone from your house deliver the ss Staircase Daily to you? Do you want to buy a Lohar Union Weekly?"


    "No, buy one of each," Aiwass insisted.


    "¡­Oh, I see."


    It took Hayna a moment to realize. Aiwass was looking at the newsboy busily selling papers and wanted to help him sell out sooner.


    "It''s almost noon, no one will buy them. And this is the Lohar District, it''s mostly sailors, fishermen, andborers here, they don''t have that much money to spend on newspapers," she whispered, "Should I buy them all?"


    "No, just one of each is fine."


    Aiwass shook his head, "The child is working, not begging."


    "¡­I understand."


    Hayna nodded earnestly with respect.


    She spoke seriously, "I''ll go buy the newspapers, you be careful."


    Aiwass opened his eyes, nodding silently.


    Hayna had only just left when a girl stealthily approached Aiwass.


    She was somewhat dirty, thinly dressed, and scrawny.


    Seeing Aiwass in a hood, the girl hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to address him.


    "¡­Mister, would you like to buy a bouquet of flowers?" she asked softly.


    She had evidently noticed that Aiwass was sitting in a wheelchair¡ªalthough she could tell from the pattern on the wheelchair that Aiwass must be wealthy and likely a kind person, having eavesdropped on their conversation earlier.


    But because Aiwass seemed to be a disabled person, her sales pitch wasn''t as confident.


    Aiwass reached out and touched her head.


    As he extended his hand, the girl flinched as if shocked, her body tensing up in fear, as though bracing for a blow.


    However, since Aiwass''s hand was slow and the one extending from his sleeve was young enough, she soon realized that she might have called him the wrong title.


    "¡ªIt''s ''Brother''," Aiwass said softly.


    His fingertips touched the girl''s hair but only felt dust and grime. She clearly hadn''t bathed in days.


    The girl, aware of this, retreated half a step in panic when Aiwass touched her hair, and immediately apologized to him, "I''m sorry, my hair is dirty¡­ I''ll leave now¡­"


    "Let''s make it a deal for a bouquet of flowers," Aiwass said, chuckling.


    As he spoke, his right hand opened, revealing a suddenly appeared one Red Coin in his previously empty palm.


    This wasn''t an act of extraordinary abilities but just a simple magic trick, yet it amazed the girl.


    She looked at the Red Coin, then back at Aiwass. She clearly thought Aiwass was a Transcendent, hesitated, and was too scared to ept his money.


    But the corners of Aiwass''s mouth, hidden under his hood, curled upward.


    With dexterous fingers, he clenched the Red Coin and slowly drew back his hand.


    Just then, he suddenly eximed lightly and reached towards the girl''s neck, "Hey, what''s this?"


    While speaking, he deftly pulled a brand-new Red Coin from behind the girl''s neck.


    Looking at the girl''s surprised and puzzled wide eyes, she clearly had no idea how it had gotten there.


    Without waiting for the girl to refuse, Aiwass deftly folded the Red Coin in half with three fingers and ced it into therge money pocket hanging on her chest.


    Aiwass slightly lifted the corner of his hood, revealing his youthful face and a smile from the bottom of his heart to the girl.


    "Shh..."


    He reached out his hand, held it in front of his mouth, and made a gesture for silence.


    Then, he put his hood back on and extended his pale, slender right hand: "Miss, where is my flower?"


    "Ah, here you go!"


    It was only then that the girl reacted, her cheeks slightly red as she handed Aiwass a withered wild rose.


    "Are you buying flowers, Aiwass?"


    Just then, Hayna returned, confused and carrying a newspaper.


    The girl, seeing this, was startled and almost fell to the ground. Looking at Hayna, dressed like an inspector, her face turned pale, and she trembled uncontrobly.


    But even so scared, she didn''t immediately run away. Instead, she mustered up the courage, stammering softly, "Wait, wait a second, sir! I still need to give you your change...!"


    With stubborn hands trembling, she carefully counted out nine crumpled copper coins from a paper wrapper hidden inside her chest and handed them respectfully to Aiwass. Then, she carefully folded the new Red Coin with a value of 1 that Aiwass had given her, put it inside the paper wrapper, and tucked it away inside her chest. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.


    She did all this under Hayna''s watchful gaze and left with legs that were almost too weak with fear.


    "I''m not that scary, am I?"


    In the past, when people feared her, Hayna didn''t care.


    But now, perhaps because she had talked with Aiwass about some things, or maybe because the girl looked so young and innocent, being feared by her was somewhat demoralizing for Hayna.


    After watching the girl walk away, Hayna whispered, "Do you want me to throw away the flower for you?"


    This dirty wildflower was truly out of ce with Aiwass''s attire.


    "No need,"


    Aiwass replied: "After all, it''s the thought of a child."


    "You seem to like children, don''t you?"


    Hayna, as if realizing something, pondered. Compared to his attitude towards herself, Aiwass''s demeanor towards the two children was clearly much friendlier.


    "Yes, I like innocent children,"


    Aiwass nodded and surprisingly, without lying, spoke a truth that came from his heart: "Just like liking cats and dogs, being with them rxes my mind. There are many things I like, I just don''t particrly like people."


    "...That sounds almost like an insult,"


    Hayna joked in response to his words, "You can''t treat children like pets."


    "It just sounds like it,"


    Aiwass''s lips slightly curving, offered no further exnation.


    He indeed wasining about people¡ªexcept he was talking about adults.


    To him, adults with their filthy minds, greed, and duplicitous natures, were worse than cats and dogs... and that included himself.


    As they chatted, following Aiwass''s directions, they finally arrived at the Pelican Bar.


    But calling it a bar was somewhat misleading; it seemed more like a house or a warehouse. Its front door was whitewashed and extravagantly painted with a cartoon-like pelican with its mouth wide open. Various fishes stuffed into its enormous mouth, floated in the beer foam, as if the pelican were stewing fish in beer.


    Next to it hung a wooden board with a long string of words spelt out in capital letters, imitating the sound of a drunkard''s belch.


    ¡ªThat was precisely the bar''s sign.


    Strictly speaking, this "Pelican Bar" ought to be pronounced as "[(hic) Bar]."


    It was nearing noon, but the doors weren''t shut, and there were quite a few customers inside.


    Clearly, it operated as a restaurant at noon as well.


    The moment Hayna, pushing Aiwass''s wheelchair, slowly entered,


    Her steps suddenly faltered.


    She widened her eyes, shocked.


    Because the bartender leisurely cleaning the wooden cups at the front wasn''t human¡ªit was a rare Wild Elf!


    Elves, with lifespans four to five times longer than humans and generally taller, had females usually over 1.8 meters tall, asionally reaching 2 meters, and male elves even taller, some reaching 2.45 meters.


    This meant that if an elf had poor upbringing, they could easily be hunchbacked during their teenage years by frequently interacting with shorter humans. And if they were well-raised¡ªor rather, cared for by parents¡ªelves generally did not hunch.


    Therefore, hunchbacked elves were referred to as Wild Elves. Wild Elves were even less in numberpared to regr elves.


    Elves valued honor, family, and lineage greatly, thus they had a substantial disdain for Wild Elves and their parents, considering them a stain on the elf race. If an elf''s parents died for matters of honor, they would usually entrust their children to rtives or friends'' care.


    Unless they died of shame... for example, if they were executed, they would not entrust their children to others; or if the children were abandoned by their parents or were rebellious youngsters who ran away from home, for these reasons they would grow up as Wild Elves.


    Wild Elvescked the grace and dignity of elves but shared their lifespan, intellect, and extraordinary abilities, hence they were often regarded as unstable elements.


    They were usually active in rural areas and their professions were often scammers, assassins, or mercenaries. Within the Royal Capital "ss Ind," all Wild Elves were theoretically registered. If there was trouble, they could be easily traced, so those who valued freedom typically disdained living in the Royal Capital.


    However, for some reason, the Wild Elf bartender showed no reaction to seeing Hayna, even giving her only a disdainful nce.


    On the other hand, when the bartender saw Aiwass, he paused noticeably, his hands stopping for a moment.


    Even covered by the cloak, the bartender easily recognized his identity.


    ¡ªAs if he had never imagined Aiwass woulde here today.


    ...Why is that, Mr. Bartender?


    Do you think I... should be dead by now?


    Aiwass narrowed his eyes, his deep blue pupils profound as the abyss.

 Chapter 21: 10 Evil Bartender

    The bartender''s face briefly shed with astonishment, quickly disguised as an annoyance at seeing customers at this time.


    "If you''d like a drink, old sir... and you, Inspector,"


    The bartender, Mr., drew out his words wearily, squinting his eyes and speaking leisurely: "You''vee too early. We haven''t opened yet."


    "Ah, just to let you know. Our bar''s dishes are much more expensive than outside. Don''tin about the price after ordering... We don''t do refunds."


    For some reason, although it was the same elongated vowel sounds and numerous glides typical of an elf ent... Hayna felt that the bartender''s voicecked the elegance of Aiwass''s butler.


    Perhaps it was because some of his trills were too harsh, too clear, or perhaps it was because his throat had a raspy tone from long-term smoking, which gave off a seasoned, unsavory air.


    "How much more expensive?"


    Hearing this, Hayna instinctively asked.


    But she quickly remembered that she was here to investigate. No matter how expensive the food was, she had to order it.


    Instead, the investigation funds provided by Butler Oswald were meant to be used at times like this.


    So she immediately changed her question: "What dishes do you have here?"


    "Heh..."


    Aiwass, standing in front of her, couldn''t help but let out a soft chuckle.


    Investigating with such a novice was indeed a unique experience.


    Despite the wild elf bartender''s quick response, he couldn''t fool Aiwass. He deliberately addressed Aiwass as "old sir," as if he hadn''t recognized Aiwass''s identity.


    But that was impossible.


    This elf who looked to be in his thirties in human years must be at least a hundred years old. As a wild elf, he lived among the urban riffraff; and the memory and perception granted by his elven blood were clearly superior to humans.


    Even if Aiwass was wearing a fully covering cloak, his physique could never pass for an old man; just by observing the style of his shoes and the exposed part of his chin, he should have been able to identify Aiwass.


    If Oswald, instead of Hayna, hade with him... he would have immediately noticed that the bartender was being excessively deliberate.


    ¡ªAiwass had visited the Pelican Bar a few days ago to meet those two "pen pals."


    And he had been very conspicuous at that time.


    "Pelican Bar" was the meeting ce specially designated by those two pen pals. At that time, Aiwass was still able to move normally, was agile, fit, and wanted to keep secret hismunication with the Demon Schr, so he went to the meeting alone.


    Considering he had never been to this ce before, he set out almost two hours early and had the coachman bring him directly to the Pelican Bar.


    To be honest, if Aiwass hadn''t found a coachman, he probably would never have found the "Pelican Bar" ¡ª who could guess that the Pelican Bar was not named "Pelican"?


    When Aiwass arrived, he was more than an hour early for the appointed time of five o''clock in the afternoon. But he had anticipated this and brought a book to read in advance.


    It was a book on the Alchemy Cipher of the Star Antimonynguage. Those alchemists following the "Bnce" path were very concerned that their knowledge leaking out would disrupt the world''s equilibrium. Therefore, they used some mysteriousnguage when writing books andmunicating with peers that outsiders couldn''t understand.


    For example, "King," "Queen Consort," and "Queen" all indicated different things. Simrly, "The Sun" and "The Moon," "Toad" and "Flying Dragon" could all be alluding to something. And, based on the principle of "keeping secrets from the uninitiated," each alchemist had unique ciphers. There were no standard industry terms ormon understanding among them.


    They each had their own codebooks, secretly taught to their students for decoding; and if they weremunicating with a sufficiently skilled peer, they could interpret the intended meaning from those hints.


    It was the so-called "those who know, know; those who don''t, wouldn''t understand even if it''s exined."


    "Alchemy Cipher," this book, revealed several ssic ciphers as examples. In the examples, the author demonstrated an alchemical process for making "Antimony ss," a mildly poisonous emetic. With slight adjustments to the proportions, one could obtain "Mercurial Antimony," a sweet-tasting, thick, flowing deadly substance.


    Not to go into details, this was knowledge for concocting a lethal poison!


    This taboo knowledge struck right at Aiwass''s excitement. In the noisy bar, he sat in a corner absorbed in his book, and in the blink of an eye, it was almost six o''clock. It wasn''t until the two men pped his shoulder to wake him up.


    Originally, Aiwass only intended to meet with them and leave.


    Not because he doubted them, but because the security in the Lohar District was indeed poor. If he lingered toote, even taking a taxi might not be safe ¡ª the Strangler Party had been stirring up fear recently.


    But by then, it was mealtime, and as they drank and chatted, they grew merrier and more excited. Eventually, Aiwass casually used a White Coin to order avish meal on the spot, treating the two "friends" to an extravagant feast. He didn''t even ask for the change, instead buying a round for the other customers.


    ¡ªHis two friends had assured him that it wouldn''t matter if it waste, they would escort him home. And after dinner, they chatted for a long time. By the time they left the bar, it was already past ten o''clock.


    "Midnight is the most suitable time for summoning demons."

 Chapter 22: 10 Evil Bartender_2

    The bald man said, "Preparing the ritual will take about an hour, and right now it''s just about that time... Do you want to try it out for yourself?"


    ... By that time, he had already discerned through those hours of conversation Aiwass''s burning desire to touch upon the taboo. He knew that Aiwass could not refuse this invitation.


    Looking back now... they must have deliberately arranged to meet here and were intentionallyte.


    Since it was already mealtime and they were caught in hunger, with other customers around ordering food, they naturally wouldn''t go looking for another ce to eat.


    So, could it be understood that the two "Noble Red" schrs of Demonology had specifically asked to meet him at the Pelican Bar and even prevented him from taking them elsewhere because they believed this was the only absolutely safe ce?


    And there was a handsome young man from the upper echelons of society, dressed neatly, sitting in a cheap bar in the Lohar District filled withborers and sailors, staring at a book for a full two hours over a pint of light beer.


    ¡ª So, could a bartender with a good memory possibly forget him?


    Even if he wasn''t a Wild Elf but just a human bartender... bearing witness to such an outrageous scene, he could easily remember it for a whole month, and he''d use it as small talk, frequently boasting or making fun of him to others.


    Not to mention, the turnover in the Pelican Bar wasn''t too high to begin with, they didn''t even get thirty customers a night.


    Therefore, there was definitely something wrong with this bartender.


    His deliberate pretense of not recognizing Aiwass, in fact, betrayed his inner fear. Since Aiwass hade wrapped in a cloak, it was on purpose not to have his identity recognized. Hence, the bartender yed along with Aiwass''s intention, attempting to help him hide his identity as well.


    This was to lower his guard and stabilize him temporarily;


    At the same time, it was also in the hope that Aiwass would assume this identity.


    If Aiwass truly wanted to conceal his identity, going along with the bartender''s words and pretending to be an "elderly man."


    Then he couldn''t have a clear conversation with the bartender, and for the time being, there would be no interaction between them.


    ¡ª Thus, it would buy some time.


    "Mr. Admar, right."


    Out of nowhere, Aiwass, wearing his hood, suddenly spoke, "Are you waiting for someone?"


    This was the name of the bartender he had overheard from other customers thest time he came.


    "... What?"


    Hearing this, Hayna turned back with some confusion, "Do you know him?"


    But after ncing at Aiwass, she couldn''t see any particr reaction from him.


    However, when she turned back around, she saw a clear look of shock and hesitation on the bartender''s face.


    In that moment, something stirred in her heart. She vaguely sensed that she had grasped something.


    Before she could ask, Aiwass chuckled lightly as if affirming something.


    "Hayna."


    Aiwass''s voice was very gentle, like that of a superior or a mentor. It was not as polite as before when he addressed her as a senior student; instead, he now called her by name, as though from a higher authority.


    But perhaps it was exactly because of this that Hayna, ustomed to obeying orders, suddenly became alert.


    "Yes!"


    Instinctively, she focused her attention, stepping forward diagonally from behind Aiwass, slightly positioning herself in front of him to protect him, and tensely awaited furthermands.


    "Draw your sword¡ª"


    Aiwassmanded.


    Although still unclear about the situation, Hayna didn''t hesitate to follow Aiwass''s instructions. In the blink of an eye, she drew her Elf sword from its sheath.


    The sword de slid from its sheath as if alive, and a pure white light illuminated from the sword''s body.


    A dazzling white light brightened the already well-lit bar at noon.


    In Hayna''s originallyke-blue eyes, a silver-white halo gradually lit up, resonating with the "Path of Sovereignty."


    The strength infused in her bloodline was gradually activated, with overflowing power surging into her limbs and body. A wave of energy roared from her as the center, spreading to the surroundings. The bottles on the liquor cab shook, making a chaotic but clear tinkling sound, like wind chimes.


    The few patrons in the bar were startled and one after another left their seats, running towards the door.


    And seeing this, the bartender''s face instantly changed, and his heart skipped a beat.


    ¡ªHave I been exposed?


    Why?


    He was shocked and confused in his mind.


    In the pressing situation, he also chose not to just sit and await his doom.


    He took a deep breath, and something seemed to move beneath his skin like worms wriggling, bulging out.


    Purple lines spread from the starting point below his lower eyelids, sprawling across his face. Like veins that suddenly change color, a web-like pattern covered most of his face. The only area left uncovered, which was where a beard might have grown¡ªskin around the mouth and chin, remained free of the purple lines.


    With every deep breath he took, the purple lines on his face brightened. They would illuminate with each inhale and slowly fade with each exhale.


    These lines, like a curse, spread rapidly across his skin, extending from his sleeve cuffs until reaching the tips of his fingers.


    "Demon Schr¡ª"


    Hayna recognized his identity. Or rather, she had a rough idea.


    A Transcendent could use mystical skills and all sorts of casting materials to use their transcendent powers in a nonbat state. But to get serious and mobilize the power of their Path to unleash those powerful transcendent skills, they had to resonate with the Path.


    Everyone''s resonance characteristics were different, but themon point was that there would be a light effect corresponding to the color of their Path.


    Just as white is the color of the Path of Sovereignty, purple is the color of The Path of Transcendence. The former symbolizes diamonds, while thetter represents amethyst.


    Although she really did not know what the specific profession of this Wild Elf was, it certainly belonged to The Path of Transcendence.


    The Path of Transcendence is always illegal!


    So she would just assume the other party was a Demon Schr¡ª


    ¡ªMr. Aiwass really found him!


    A sense of joy rose in her heart.


    She had no idea how Aiwass had identified the man''s identity because she had not seen any ws revealing his identity.


    But once the battle started, this was her area of expertise!


    And looking at the Wild Elf bartender with purple web-like lines covering his skin beneath... Seeing such an obvious feature, Aiwass finally recalled his identity.


    The original "Sin Nexus Pelican Bar''s" number one, "Evil Bartender" Admar!


    In his memory was that burly man with arms as thick as war hammers, hunched and bare chest, his upper body covered in glowing deep purple lines¡ª


    His image gradually ovepped with the Wild Elf who was inting like a balloon.


    ¡ªOriginally, Aiwass just intended to let Hayna intimidate him a little, to put some pressure on him.


    He hadn''t expected him to be unable to withstand the pressure, morphing at just a light press!


    Now they had found their true target directly!

 Chapter 23: 11 How Did He Do It?

    Even though it was the first boss of the first dungeon... but the name was so hard to remember that Aiwass had long forgotten itpletely.


    Not to waste his teammates'' time, Aiwass always skipped all the cutscenes in this four-yer dungeon.


    He had no idea what Admar looked like outside of battle mode. He only remembered that he was a hunched giant, with skin covered in purple webs.


    They used to call Admar Little Purple.


    Because this was the first enemy in the Transcendence Path. In the early stages, yers rarely saw other bosses and NPCs with purple light effects, so they named them in a straightforward manner.


    He was called Little Purple because there was another "Da Zi"ter in the dungeon; and in another dungeon, there were enemies called "Old Purple" and "Purple Sister." Once version 1.2 started, with more enemies in the Transcendence Path, they stopped using these names.


    Along with the recovery of his memory, there also came the simple mechanics of the "Evil Bartender"¡ª


    Admar was seen leaning on the counter, his arms swelling at a visible rate, bursting through his sleeves.


    He mmed his right hand out with incredible speed, as if whipping up a gale.


    "[Steadfast Demeanor]."


    And Aiwass, even before Admar could swing, preemptivelymanded from behind.


    At the moment she heard the order,


    Hayna''s body moved reflexively, her pupils'' rings spinning rapidly. She turned her sword sideways, left hand bracing the front half of the de. She sank her weight, pushing off with her right foot. In the blink of an eye, she assumed a posture to withstand the impact.


    ¡ª ng!


    The sound of a hammer smashing into an anvil rang out, despite it being a mere contact between palm and rapier.


    The de, empowered by Rhythm Tactics and the path of Authority, solidly blocked the strike!


    Hayna could clearly feel a tremendous force surging down the de.


    Had she not instinctively followed Aiwass''smand and used "[Steadfast Demeanor]," she probably would have been blown away, crashing into Aiwass sitting in his wheelchair behind her!


    But at that moment, her body stood firm like a foundation poured into the ground, directing all that strength into the earth!


    After the strike, she instinctively found the right moment within his attack andunched a sharp counterattack!


    With a backhanded sword strike, she sliced from the underside of the repelled right arm all the way to the left shoulder.


    Blood spurted out as the Evil Bartender stumbled back in pain, colliding with the liquor cab behind him.


    Bottles fell from the collision, shattering crisply on the floor.


    Remembering her instructor''s teaching not to be rash, she instinctively wanted to return to the standard stance she started with.


    However, Aiwass gave a perfectly timedmand.


    "[Mighty Blow]."


    ¡ª Can I really do it?


    A brief moment of hesitation shed through her mind.


    [Mighty Blow] required charging, and before the sh, movement and parrying were impossible; after the sh, it was also impossible to change attacks, making it easy for a nimble enemy to dodge and counterattack.


    ording to her instructor''s teachings, this move should be used when it is confirmed that the opponent is either unable to counterattack or dodge, forcing them to choose defense¡ªthen smashing through their defenses.


    After gaining an advantage in the first engagement, [Sharpen de] should be used to temporarily increase the sharpness of the de, or [Intimidation Skill] to intimidate the opponent further in their losing state, rendering them powerless. One must control the distance from the opponent, not too close, not too far. Always keep the opponent within the range of [Charge sh] while ensuring there is enough space behind to retreat, evade, and parry.


    ... Oh, that''s not right, Mr. Aiwass is behind me. Should I first step aside then?


    But then, wouldn''t that expose him...


    As her mind quickly processedplex thoughts, Hayna, distracted for a moment, realized that her body, trained through countless drills, had already moved on its own.


    Upon receiving Aiwass''smand, she took a deep breath, held the short sword with both hands, and her back slightly hunched over like a cat about to pounce.


    After about half a second of charging, her figure shot out like a bolt of lightning.


    A crescent moon-like sharp and cold arc of white light burst in the air, and the counter in front of the Wild Elf Bartender was cleaved in two by her sh.


    The immense force of the impact made the bartender''s body freeze in ce.


    Even the left arm he reflexively used to guard, which was in front of him, was severed in one go!


    His forearm had a chillingly clean break. His purple, swollen-looking left hand fell to the ground as he let out a piercing scream, with the purple veins rapidly receding along their paths.


    The scream was so agonizing that it startled Hayna.


    And his posture, shifting out ofbat mode, left Hayna uncertain whether she should continue fighting him.


    But then, Aiwass''s stern voice came again.


    "Hayna, move."


    She stepped nimbly to the side, taking a half step away.


    ¡ª A gunshot rang out.


    The bartender''s left eye was pierced by the bullet, blood blossoming from the back of his head. The blood, like a flower, spread across the liquor cab behind him.


    His body slipped down helplessly, trailing a deep red stain.


    She didn''t even see where Aiwass had hidden the gun. He was still sitting in the wheelchair, motionless, with a wisp of white smokeing from his ck cape, a slight upward curve at the corner of his mouth under the cloak.

 Chapter 24: 11 How Did He Do It?_2

    From Aiwass''s perspective, tiny white light dots gradually emerged from the corpse and flowed into his own body.


    [Killing a second energy level Transcendent, gained 14 free experience]


    Aiwass showed a delightful smile, relishing the moment.


    "Let me steal a kill, thank you."


    Although direct experience from killing monsters in "Ring of Ouroboros" was rather insignificant, leveling up mainly depended on quests, crafts, buying and reading books, and the daily dungeon''s reward experience... but every little bit adds up.


    Not to mention, his level was low. The benefits of consuming free experience to level up were still pretty substantial.


    These 14 points of free experience, along with the 24 points provided by the counter-kill of the Demon Schr before, if distributed evenly over the Demon Schr''s three skills, would almost suffice for a four-level increase.


    He could also allocate some experience to his Priest profession, reaching second level to ess a Path. Then he could give three levels to the Demon Schr ¨C this was the n that would yield the greatest short-term benefits.


    Alternatively, he could hold off a bit, learn other skills from the Path of Devotion such as "Rite of Fire," "Illumination Art," and "Blessing" ¨C these were more useful than "Prayer" and harder to level up ¨C and then spend the experience points. These points could at least bring the Priest ss directly up to level five. This was the most cost-effective promotion method in the long term.


    After all, "Demonology Knowledge" could be steadily improved simply by reading mystical demonology books; "Basic Prayer" guaranteed steady progress as long as you prayed twice a day, three minutes each time; and "Demonic Pact" would even passively grant him slow strength replenishment from the Shadow Demon.


    Only "Basic Ritual" was a bit of a hassle, mainly because of the "basic" in its name.


    It was too low-ranked. The rituals Aiwass used to create "de of Shadows" were too high-leveled and it didn''t even gain experience. Aiwass truly couldn''t remember such low-leveled rituals ¨C the ones worth memorizing were either frequently used by him or were forms that could be sold for a high price.


    From this perspective, the Demon Schr could level up without any effort. However, improving the Priest profession would be much more difficult and could only progress slowly.


    If he could quickly promote the Priest to the second order, he could prove that he was "a person willing to devote."


    Otherwise, how could he have progressed so smoothly on the Path of Devotion?


    "Do you have a higher level in the Path of Devotion than I do? If not, how can you say I''m not a good person?"


    That would be an unbeatable card for survival! He could also naturally be a key student and gain ess to the Theological Seminary''s resources... That way, he wouldn''t be seen as "the bad student who took a three-month leave at the start of term," but rather as a "frail yet devout and talented genius."


    But then, these 38 experience points seemed a bit insufficient...


    Aiwass''s mind raced, and in a sh, he pondered new schemes.


    Hayna stared at the corpse, somewhat dazed. Clearly, she wasn''t asposed about killing someone as she imed to be.


    Before she could react and question why Aiwass suddenly decided to kill the man,


    Aiwass used before being used, asking first, "Why didn''t you just behead him? He wouldn''t have been able to stop you."


    "...Ah?"


    Hayna''s mind glitched for a moment, then she exined softly, "Because he was much weaker than me. I saw that he had already lost the ability to resist, so I thought maybe we could capture him alive..."


    Indeed, herbat instincts were quite precise.


    Aiwass quietly agreed with Hayna''s reasoning.


    If things had ended there, they could have just taken the captive Evil Bartender and closed the case.


    But Aiwass couldn''t really let the Supervisory Bureau interrogate him¡ªwhat if he gave Aiwass away?


    Although the Moriarty Family had some influence, if there was definite evidence, Aiwass, the adopted son, wasn''t sure he wouldn''t be convicted.


    So, Aiwass shifted the topic and sternly said, "Did you notice? When he saw you disy the Path, his first reaction was to resist, even to attack you.


    "What does this represent? It means that he had no intention at all of confessing and submitting to thew!"


    ¡ªRidiculous, a desperate viin with blood on his hands and a lethal weapon, who would face the death penalty if caught, how could he just surrender when he suddenly encountered a cop all alone? Even if he didn''t counter-attack, at the very least, he would try to escape.


    Aiwass mused internally.


    But his face showed no signs of doubt.


    He continued, emphasizing each word, "If from the beginning you could tell, even without lifting a finger, that he was far weaker than you, then wouldn''t he know it too? Knowing this, yet he still actively resonated the Path and attacked you¡ªwhat does this indicate?"


    It indicates that he knew he couldn''t outrun you and in his desperation, he had to fight for his life.


    Aiwass thought to himself.


    "...What does it indicate?"


    Hayna was somewhat hesitant.


    Her mind felt nk¡ªif it was on an exam paper, she believed she coulde up with a perfect answer after serious thought. But now, the fresh corpse was giving off the scent of blood, and she felt her heart was in disorder.


    "Think about it," Aiwass suddenly changed his tone, "At first he said that the food here was expensive, trying to dissuade us. This shows that he didn''t want to confront the Supervisory Bureau directly..."


    "Yes, I understand."


    "Butter on, I just asked you to draw your sword, without even attacking¡ªand under these circumstances, he dared to attack you instead of running away or lying. Why did he dare do that?"

 Chapter 25: 11 How Did He Do It?_3

    "...So, he must have a power that is very costly to use, hence cannot be normally used... but at the same time, is very strong?"


    Hayna tentatively answered.


    Aiwass nodded with satisfaction, "Exactly."


    You wouldn''t say, but it''s true.


    This deduction wasn''t wrong. It was also one of the reasons why the Evil Bartender chose to fight desperately, because he indeed had a chance of winning.


    The profession of the Evil Bartender was a "Demon" who surpasses the Path; upon entering a critically wounded state, he could restore half of his maximum health in one breath, then enter a demonization state where he quickly loses health and receives an enhancement to all attributes.


    It''s just that your damage was too high; two strikes caused him to skip phases.


    With correct information, and wrong deductive reasoning, she arrived at an equally correct answer. No one would realize there was a problem here¡ªeven after she brought back the body, the conclusion would only be that "Aiwass''s judgment was correct."


    "...So that''s how it is!"


    Hayna said with genuine conviction, "Thank you, Aiwass! You''ve saved me!"


    Aiwass nodded solemnly, "That''s why when facing extremely vicious bandits, you must not hesitate. You might want to take captives, but they surely wouldn''t think the same."


    See, she even has to thank me.


    "What should we do now?" she had gotten used to asking Aiwass, following hismand, "Should we pack up the body and take it back?"


    "No rush."


    Aiwass pulled on his cloak, speaking calmly, "This is not a job for him to be the mastermind behind the scenes.


    "The real culprit is in the basement of this tavern. She''s been listening here for a long time.


    "There''s no need to confront her head-on¡ªjust pour the liquor through the crack under the door, and then set this ce on fire."


    "...Isn''t that a bit too cruel? What if shees out?"


    "Then let you deal with her."


    After repeatedly confirming Aiwass''s correctness, this time Hayna finally didn''t subconsciously think about arguing.


    She just looked forward to the basement, gripping her unsheathed short Sword, eager to act.


    "...Truly unexpected."


    As expected, soon a woman''s voice echoed from the direction Hayna was watching.


    She slowly pushed open the basement door.


    It was a woman dressed in a vibrant red robe, well-built, with skin pale as a corpse, bald-headed. She was at least one meter seventy, with a muscr left arm pushing the door, her chest prominently raised, and a faint purple glow shimmering in the depths of her eyes.


    Hayna gripped her short Sword tightly, her center of gravity low, ready to charge.


    But then her pupils suddenly constricted, and she stopped in ce.


    On the woman''s right arm emerged several purple runes, as if grasping an orb with her fingers slightly curled.


    A ghostly spirit entwined around her fingertips, a faint blueish-grey mist gathered. Forming an irregr orb about the size of a baby''s head. Visible cold energy pulsed like a heartbeat, sending wisps of cold grey wind rolling towards them across the floor in waves.


    Hayna didn''t recognize this Spell, but she distinctly felt the threat.


    And the woman, clutching this long-gathered Magic Orb, did notunch an attack.


    That was correct.


    If sheunched the Magic Orb at this distance, Hayna could possibly dodge it; if she attacked Aiwass with it, then Hayna''s charge would surely not be stopped.


    But Hayna didn''t dare charge either, because she was unclear about the specific effects of this Spell.


    If she were to take this Magic Orb at close range, she might end up in a losing position immediately.


    So she stood slightly in front of Aiwass but did not block his line of fire. The three of them fell into a brief stalemate.


    "...Why did you know I was in the basement?"


    The bald woman stared at Aiwass, emotionless, and countered, "Did I leave any evidence somewhere?


    "...How did you manage it?"


    "Experience."


    Aiwass answered simply. Because this instance had more than one BOSS.


    ¡ª¡ªSure enough, it was deduction!


    How on earth did he guess?


    Hayna felt invigorated by this realization, her excitement hard to contain.

 Chapter 26: 12 Evil Sorcerer Veronica

    After Aiwass recalled the identity of the Evil Bartender, hepletely remembered the details of this instance:


    The first elite enemy, "Evil Bartender", was a level 15 demon. The main mechanic was that after charging up, he wouldunch a powerful attack that could be dodged but not blocked, which was capable of knocking back yers, and it did notpletely abide by aggro. This mechanic revolved around roughly a fifteen-second cycle. If yers were knocked back, they would easily hit tables, walls, and other yers, causing secondary damage and stunning them.


    Moreover, if a yer was close enough to him¡ªwithin a meter, they would immediately be hit by the attack, regardless of aggro. Thus, if the front line was knocked back, it would easily expose the back line.


    When his health was first reduced below 30%, he would enter a demonized state. His attack speed, movement speed, and the frequency of using his first ability would all double.


    Beyond that, there were no other mechanics. The mechanics could be countered by skills that prevent knockback or by dodging. Melee damage dealers could also approach him from behind just as the mechanic was about to be triggered, take the hit, and then continue as the tank pulled the aggro back. In this way, it would be a simple tank-and-spank boss.


    The second boss of the instance was a Demon Dog named "Evil Hound" Shell, created by a high-ranking Demon Schr. Its trait was high-frequency attacks, with additional burn, armor piercing, and poison effects. Moreover, every time its health dropped by 10%, it would reset its aggro, though it was basically easy to handle with just a little attention.


    Of course, if this were in reality, the boss would definitely note out one by one like Scourge saving grandpa. If the Bartender and Evil Hound appeared simultaneously, it would be difficult to fight.


    ¡­But now, this Evil Hound had disappeared.


    The moment Aiwass saw the bald woman''s face, he immediately realized.


    The creator of this "Evil Hound" must have been the bald man he had counter-killed that night!


    ¡ªBecause this woman, was none other than the "apprentice" Aiwass had met that night!


    Many fragments immediately reassembled in his mind, forming a new thread of events:


    ording to the original history, yers were supposed to suddenly appear, startling both individuals, and rescue Aiwass, who was already on the sacrificial altar, preventing the arrival of the Shadow Demon. Afterwards, the man would leave, creating "Evil Hound" to guard this secret base.


    And the "Pelican Bar" was supposed to be rted to The Association of Noble Red.


    Or rather, this was simply an outpost of their organization in Avalon.


    The reason it''s called an outpost...


    Is because even Aiwass, who didn''t remember the plot well, knew that the mysterious association known as Noble Red was actually a front for the spies of the Star Antimony Kingdom among the popce!


    The higher-ups of this association were all secret agents of Star Antimony Kingdom¡ªthey supported the suppressed Demonologists within Avalon by distributing demonological tomes and forbidden ritual materials.


    Of course, these two individuals who came to find Aiwass likely did not have the rank to know such secrets.


    He also immediately remembered why this event could involve a certain minister of Avalon.


    Now, because he had killed that man at that time, the Evil Hound was no longer at the bar.


    ¡ªAlthough it wasn''t very significant, history had indeed been changed by a small part by him!


    And the apprentice who escaped that day was the Evil Sorcerer Veronica. A level 19 Demon Schr, just one step away from reaching the third energy level.


    yers affectionately called her Da Zi or Baldy.


    Since she was the lowest-level boss with a Red robe drop, Da Zi was farmed quite frequently. Although the Red robe wasn''t particrly stylish or had any attributes, it enabled the event line of The Association of Noble Red to be started.


    In that event line, one could obtain four books and a decent staff. The books granted a good amount of skill experience, so yers who chose the Demonologist ss would have to do it sooner orter.


    Compared to the first two bosses that Aiwass had forgotten, Veronica''s mechanics were much harder.


    ¡ªJust like now, she made her entrance directly manipting a sphere.


    Fifteen seconds after the start, she would directly target the yer with the highest aggro, releasing a fast-moving, weakly tracking "Cursed Infant." If you can''t dodge this skill, you''re dead on the spot.


    This massive damage, at a level without any damage reduction or invincibility skills, is impossible to withstand. Only a tank ss above level thirty could take this hit without dying after breaking the limit. So the only option was to dodge.


    yers killed by her in battle would be immediately sacrificed to summon lesser demons. The lesser demons aren''t difficult to deal with, just a matter of concentrated fire over three rounds. But a sacrificed corpse meant no chance of revival and reinforcement during the fight.


    This was a four-yer dungeon, and failing to dodge the opening mechanics meant immediately being down one-quarter of yourbatants¡ªlikely losing a tank with high probability.


    The subsequent battle wasn''t tough, just a matter of releasing a group damage skill that got more painful over time. The more stacks you had, the slower your movement and attack speed, until a yer died and the stacks of the others would reset to zero.


    If no one died in the first round of mechanics, it was basically a rush to out-damage the boss; otherwise, the healer would have to sacrifice themselves when they couldn''t heal through the damage, to clear the stacks for the other teammates. If you didn''t make it through then, then it was impossible to beat.


    Different from the first two bosses. The first two didn''t require any research, and iling around could still get you through. If Veronica went in blind, she''d likely wipe on the first encounter.


    All you could say was this boss knew how to y.


    Before even appearing, she was already using rituals in secret to prepare a big move, aiming to reduce the team by one as soon as the battle began. Unlike other game bosses who would hold off their ultimate moves until they were nearly defeated¡ªthis boss''s attack pattern was very simr to a yer''s, delivering a burst of damage right at the start.


    As a healer ss, Aiwass definitely needed to study the mechanics.


    If a tank or DPS didn''t handle the mechanics well at the start, he would have to die deliberately. With more experience came increased proficiency.


    ¡ªBut after all, as the boss of the initial dungeon, yers would inevitably getzier with more attempts.


    So the yers also worked out a way to ''skip sses'' with Veronica.


    And to be honest, it was extremely simple.


    Aiwass''s earlier preparations were for this very moment¡ª


    His left hand, hidden beneath his cloak, opened slightly, and the Power of Shadows silently converged in the gaps between his fingers. The "Enchantment Card: de of Shadows," which he had created the night before, materialized in the twisted void. He held it between his index and middle fingers.


    To divert Veronica''s attention, Aiwass spoke calmly at this point, "The number of openings you''ve left is simply too many¡ªto the point of being innumerable.


    "It even took me a moment longer than it should have to uncover the truth. I believe, if it were that famous Mr. Sherlock, he would have guessed right away."


    As he spoke, the gun in his right hand drew closer to the "Moon" Tarot card in his left hand.


    The moment the gun touched the Tarot card, which had been rewritten to be "Enchantment Card: de of Shadows."


    Aiwass''s thought triggered, and the Enchantment Card he was holding in his left hand instantly transformed into a shadowy mass, seeping into thedy''s gun in his right hand.


    Then, he raised the gun overtly and aimed at the Evil Sorcerer Veronica.


    The woman in the red robe recognized Aiwass''s identity at that moment.


    She had originally wanted to ask Aiwass how exactly he survived that night¡ªon seeing the Shadow Demon lose control and kill her mentor in an instant, she didn''t hesitate to turn tail and run. She didn''t know that Aiwass had taken control of the Shadow Demon, thinking instead that the mentor''s contract had failed.


    But seeing Aiwass''s ridiculous gesture, her doubt and wariness were overshadowed by disdain.


    She couldn''t help but snort inughter, even toozy to dodge, "You don''t think such a thing would be useful against me, do you?


    "Elf-made, Grip of the Lady, with a capacity of five rounds¡ªam I right? Do you think it will be useful against me?


    "I''m toozy to even dodge. How about I just stand here and let you shoot me once?"

 Chapter 27: 13 You heard it, she told me to hit

    Upon hearing the battle above, she had already cautiously initiated multiple rituals in the basement for herself.


    ¡ª¡ª[Bullet Protection], [Minor Piercing Natural Resistance], [sh Protection], [Stable Spellcasting], [Weakness Reinforcement].


    Of course, she had maximized her status effects, preparing her strongest attack in advance before she came out to face them.


    Even though she was speaking with Aiwass, her attention was actually focused on Hayna.


    The moment Hayna got distracted, she would immediately throw the "Cursed Infant" in her hand. It would automatically track the heart; upon contact, it would burrow into the body and tear through the internal organs, causing frost damage.


    Apanied by an unbearable sharp pain, it would also freeze the blood vessels near the heart. Even if one didn''t die after consumption, any violent movement could tear their own internal organs, resulting in massive bleeding. Not even a bishop could save such a wound.


    ...But if this attack missed and she got caught in a melee.


    Even though she had enhanced herself with multiple buff statuses, she likely couldn''t defeat this young Inspector.


    She could sense that he must have mastered the power of the third energy level.


    Although she was unsure of the properties of his Path, she might lose in a direct confrontation.


    ¡ª¡ªThere''s only one chance!


    The instant she saw Aiwass raising the gun at her, she had already decided on her tactics.


    She had specifically reinforced her defense.


    She might have been wary of a high-powered firearm, but Grip of the Lady''s was weak.


    It might not even fully prate a thicker oak barrel filled with wine. Thatdy Knight across from her could probably block the bullet with her muscle.


    Such a bullet, even if it hit her precisely in vulnerable spots like her eyes or throat, couldn''t inflict a serious injury on her.


    And Aiwass Moriarty was just a young man who had never handled a gun, ignorant of everything. As a Transcendent of the Resonance Path, she could keenly sense that... even if Aiwass had an Extraordinary Profession, he was at least one rank below her.


    Because she didn''t feel any threat from him.


    His daring to shoot at Admar was because Admar had already lost his fighting capacity, akin to shooting at a still target.


    Observing the corpse of Admar, the bullet had a normal power, not specially modified by a craftsman.


    But she was alive and could dodge. Not knowing whether she could avoid his shot, he would definitely choose to aim for her torso to increase the hit rate.


    And the protection she had prepared could easily block this shot.


    But she could pretend to be fatally wounded, making the youngdy Knight rx her guard. Then she would take the chance tounch a surprise attack¡ª¡ª


    "How about it? Take a bet!"


    Sheughed heartily, as though truly fearless, "You only have one chance!"


    Veronica knew that if the bullet hit her eyes, or throat, or other vulnerable spots, it could indeed interrupt her spellcasting. But first, Aiwass might not dare to make such a shot¡ªhe only had one chance.


    By continuing to pressure him, the young man would make a cautious choice!


    And as long as this shot didn''t hit a fatal weak point, she could safely block it;


    At worst, her spellcasting would be interrupted. His pitiful handgun still couldn''t inflict effective damage on her¡ªand she still had a chance to attack thedy Knight.


    ¡ª¡ªNo matter what, at least I won''t lose.


    Come on,e on.


    "Hurry up and give me a shot¡ª¡ª"


    After quickly determining her tactics based on her experience, Veronica stood in ce and continued to taunt:


    "What aughable and pitiful boy. You escapedst time, but not this time. Don''t tell me you think that because this thing could kill that idiot, it could also..."


    ¡ª¡ªBang!


    The next moment, the gunshot rang out.


    A dark line passed through Veronica''s head.


    Her bald head burst apart like a watermelon exploding.


    The spells in Veronica''s hands went out of control and scattered, a raging cold wind blew through the entire bar. It made Hayna step back involuntarily, and Aiwass''s wheelchair rolled backward until it hit the wall and stopped.


    There was even no need for a follow-up attack.


    Because she died so quickly, so utterly, that the sustained damage from "Shadow" and "Erosion" didn''t even manage to ur.


    Tiny white points of light gradually emerged from her corpse, flowing into Aiwass''s body.


    [Eliminate a second energy level Transcendent, gain 16 Free Experience]


    ¡ª¡ªThis is the simplest way to skip ss.


    Among the protective rituals she could use, there was no "Cutting," "Piercing," or "Blunt" types of physical resistance. That is, at most, she could only resist "sh" and "Shooting." But the level of her rituals was too low to be effective against Extraordinary Weapons.


    So all that was needed was to find an Extraordinary Weapon with "Cutting," "Piercing," and "Blunt" properties and attack her weak spot with a sneak attack before enteringbat. It could prate all resistances like attacking a normal unit, deal at least one-third of her health in single damage, and directly render her defenseless and unconscious.


    Then one round of output could take her down.


    And in reality, without the three times health boost from the four-person boss module, she could be headshotted and killed with a single shot.


    After all, the Enchantment Card system was derived from the Great Sin Schr''s abilities. In the 1.0 environment, purple-grade Extraordinary Equipment was exceedingly rare, but two versionster, almost everyone had a set, so the term "Extraordinary" was quite generousing from the Great Sin Schr''s Phantom Card.

 Chapter 28: 13 You Heard It, She Told Me to Hit_2

    It would be more urate to say that without the "Transcendent" tag, the Weapon Cards materialized by the Phantom Cards couldn''t even scratch monsters two versionster¡ªmost enemies by that period were basically covered with non-Transcendent resistance, and weapons and consumables that didn''t involve Transcendent power had be ineffective against people.


    Unlike now, where even this blue and white outfit could kill someone.


    What is this?


    This is the suppression of version updates.


    "You see, she made me shoot. I just wanted to scare her,"


    Watching Hayna''s somewhat astonished and somewhat bewildered gaze, Aiwass innocently shrugged: "It''s not my fault."


    "...I know. Don''t be afraid, Mr. Aiwass. You arepletely innocent, it was because your life was threatened that you were forced to shoot¡ªI can prove it for you,"


    Hayna was half a stepte, then slowly nodded her head.


    She turned her head back to look at the body of the female magician, and fell silent for a while.


    "...But why did she dare to be so arrogant?"


    She tried to rationalize everything that happened in front of her: "Perhaps she thought your shot would miss..."


    "¡ªRight, she said ''I didn''t manage to kill youst time.'' Could she be the Demon Schr who kidnapped you? That''s why she underestimated you, not expecting that as a Priest, aside from having the ability to reason, you also possess the courage to fight her!"


    Hayna spoke more and more smoothly, feeling like she hadpleted the logic.


    Aiwass shook his head repeatedly.


    This person is charmed, really can say anything... if you covet my body, just say so. He didn''t know how to respond to this logic.


    "A single person''s body, we could still take back. But definitely not two,"


    Without picking up on the previous topic, Aiwass suggested calmly, "So my advice is, we try to get in touch with the Supervisory Bureau nearby. Have them send someone to oversee¡ªby the way, seal off this ce. Pelican Bar must be rted to these Demon Schrs.


    "You can check the basement of this bar, there should be arge amount of ritual materials,"


    "That''s great!"


    Hayna was extremely excited: "The case is solved!"


    But then, she suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of which, how did you know the bartender''s name?"


    "Because I''ve been here before,"


    Aiwass didn''t avoid the question: "The very day I was attacked and kidnapped."


    "In fact, what I told you before wasn''t entirely right. Or to say... at that time, I didn''t know they were Demon Schrs."


    "They?"


    "Yes. Besides this woman, there was also a middle-aged man. Before I was attacked, they both came to have a drink with me... I thought they were good people at the time, so I treated them to a meal."


    "Unexpectedly, shortly after I left the bar, I passed out. In a daze, I saw a huge stone arch. So I knew I must have been taken to Stone Arch Gate Park. I never thought it was them¡ªrather, it must have been something wrong with the food I ate that day."


    "That''s why I tested the bartender. I suspected he had poisoned me and recognized me."


    "So I think we can''t let our guard down. There should still be another more powerful Demon Schr alive. He is a man, about forty years old, with brown eyes, also bald, with a bit of an ent from Star Antimony¡ª he said he was a stone merchant, usually traveling between Star Antimony and Avalon,"


    Aiwass spoke a mix of truth and lies.


    His whereabouts on that day were easy to investigate. Thesting impression he left was not only on that Wild Elf bartender but also included all the guests who came here that day.


    So this was not something he could deceive anyone about.


    And Aiwass had to be especially careful about the perspective issue.


    If he truly was an innocent man, then he shouldn''t know anything special about these two people. So it made perfect sense that he didn''t report it on the first day¡ªat the time, from Aiwass''s perspective, indeed he was just someone who went out for fun and was then attacked on his way home.


    But now, he had to reveal this matter. Because once the investigation of Pelican Bar began, his activities that day could not be hidden from anyone.


    Likewise, from his perspective, he definitely wouldn''t know that the man had already been killed by him in retaliation. The fact that there was one dead person at the ritual site, and he was a wanted criminal, was something he didn''t know.


    Sure enough, Hayna immediately exined to him: "Don''t be afraid, that person is probably already dead¡ªI nowpletely understand the whole course of the incident.


    "They must have been hiding in this bar from the start. Then that day, seeing youe to the bar alone, they nned to use you as a sacrifice to summon a Demon.


    "The bartender is their man, so he poisoned you, making you unable to resist their sacrifice."


    "That woman just said things like ''I didn''t manage to kill youst time,'' and that man also died at the ritual site... It must have been the Demon they summoned who turned on them, and his student decisively fled the scene. Unexpectedly, the Demon first killed its summoner, and as a result, you survived."


    "So that''s how it is."


    Aiwass nodded thoughtfully: "If that man is already dead... then that matches up with my guess, roughly."


    "In that case, senior sister¡ªwe don''t need to go to the Supervisory Bureau right away,"


    It was time to make use of Hayna, so Aiwass dropped the direct name and returned to addressing her as senior sister.


    "Why?"


    Hayna was a bit puzzled: "Wouldn''t it be quicker to search with more people?"

 Chapter 29: 13 You heard it, she told me to hit_3

    "Among the guests who escaped earlier, someone must have informed the Supervisory Bureau. And I just fired two shots, the people outside probably heard it. The Inspectors should be here soon, we just need to wait here,"


    At this point, Aiwass''s face showed a clear hesitation, one that even Hayna could easily discern.


    She immediately asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "Actually," Aiwass lowered his voice, "I might have left a book here."


    "I was groggy when I left that day, and I left some things here."


    "What book?"


    "It''s a forbidden book."


    "A forbidden book?!"


    "Yes."


    Aiwass nodded, speaking gravely, "It''s called the ''Alchemy Cipher,'' probably taken down to the cer by the bartender."


    "I didn''t dare to take it back before. But since we can avoid notifying the Supervisory Bureau right away, I still want to retrieve it. That book is very precious... and I''m also worried, if it remains here, someone might discover the book''s connection to our Moriarty Family."


    "...You,"


    Hayna just felt a headacheing on.


    Even discounting his looks¡ªwith only a day''s acquaintance, she hade to greatly appreciate her junior.


    Smart, serious, cultured, even a seeker of the path of Dedication, and arade in battle. Judging from the way he handled that female Demon Schr, he could even be credited with saving her life.


    She was not one to be ungrateful.


    But how to deal with this situation...


    After thinking for a while, Hayna sheathed her Sword, and the halo in her eyes gradually extinguished.


    "Just this once."


    She too lowered her voice, speaking seriously, "I know there are big shots who''ve secretly studied such taboo knowledge, but I didn''t expect you to be one of them...


    "I don''t want to report you, but you at least shouldn''t bring it into public ces, right? It''s very dangerous!


    "Even if it''s not from the passing patrols of the Supervisory Bureau checking your package, it could also draw the attention of the wrong people¡ªyou might not know, but these mysterious books fetch a high price on the ck market!"


    Of course, I know.


    Because it''s expensive, and you, due to your fear of poverty, can empathize with the pain, that''s why you brought it up in this ce...


    "Yes, senior sister is right..."


    Aiwass kept nodding, with a pitiful look, "Can you help me get it back, senior sister? Since it''s illegal, it should be hidden in the cer; if it''s valuable enough, it should be in some important box."


    "...I suspect, it''s because of that book that you were targeted!"


    Hayna couldn''t help lecturing him further.


    But looking at Aiwass''s expression, her heart softened anyway.


    She sighed, handing over her Surveince Badge and sword to Aiwass, "You stay here and don''t go out. If the local Inspectors arrive before Ie back, show them this. Tell them someone is already investigating, and ask them to wait here.


    "¡ªAlso, speaking of Alchemy, I just remembered. ording to standard procedure, your gun will have to be turned over to the Supervisory Bureau afterward for inspection to see if there are any traces of illegal modification with Alchemy."


    "I understand. Of course."


    Aiwass nodded without hesitation.


    Hayna was somewhat uneasy, "Tell me the truth, do you really have one? I feel its power is a bit too great. If you do have one, I can help you deal with the body and perhaps obscure the traces a bit¡ªalchemy weapon modifications are illegal, too."


    "Really, I don''t have one."


    Aiwass assured her confidently, "You can check if you want. Let''s not deal with the body... If someone finds out you''ve tampered with it, it won''t be good for you either."


    Not to mention that this was an enchantment, certainly not a modification... And if a Phantom Card could be detected by these rookie technicians from the Supervisory Bureau, whose highest level isn''t even forty, that would be a joke.


    Don''t they know what''s called a professional technical barrier?


    Hearing this, Hayna felt warm inside.


    Although she had been the one to offer her help, somehow she felt like she was the one being helped.


    "Be careful, I''ll be back soon."


    With that, Hayna opened the door to the basement and closed it behind her.


    After she left, Aiwass let out a soft sigh.


    The expression on his face, that of a guilty puppy, was instantly gone, vanishing without a trace. He became expressionless.


    ¡ªAt the next moment, Aiwass stood up from the wheelchair.


    His movements were very smooth, with no dy at all.


    And the moment he left the wheelchair, his shadow beneath him began to stir like a living creature being awakened, slowly moving. Like an indeterminate magical beast, it crept up from his skin, spreading and twisting across the ground.


    The entire shambles of the bar hall darkened.


    It was as though it was not noontime, but ratherte evening with themps drawn. It blocked out all the lighting in from the outside.


    Sshing, sshing...


    Aiwass stepped on his own shadow, making a sound like boots trampling puddles on a rainy day. His shadow seemed to have be a sort of viscous liquid, like flowing, ck blood.


    Aiwass,pletely ignoring this mutation, walked straight to Veronica''s body and began to search painstakingly in the dark.


    That night when they met, Veronica had shown him¡ªshe had hidden a thick stack of letters against her body, inside her clothes.


    He had seen it clearly at the time. Thest letter he had sent to them was hidden among them.


    These letters were tucked inside her own brassiere.


    ¡ªIf Veronica forgot to destroy it, or intended to temporarily keep this letter after suspecting that she was killed by the Shadow Demon...


    Her sudden death would turn it into evidence that could implicate Aiwass.


    Aiwass had tricked Hayna away to secretly retrieve this fatal piece of evidence.


    And just as Aiwass expected.


    Aiwass found a stack of letters of various sizes from within Veronica''s clothing and immediately spotted the one belonging to him.


    "Heh."


    Aiwass let out a coldugh, clenching the letter.


    As expected.


    ¡ªThis was the final piece of evidence.

 Chapter 30: 14 The Awakened Shadow Demon

    In the game, when searching Veronica''s corpse, one can obtain the "Letter Sent to the Noble Red Society by Someone".


    This is a guaranteed drop, an early main quest item that directly initiates the next stage of the main quest.


    And this "Someone" is a proxy for a certain minister whoter gets involved in the incident.


    Aiwass couldn''t remember who this somebody was, nor could he remember which minister it was... but knowing a general range was enough.


    It''s just like when a teacher outlines the scope of the final exam before it takes ce.


    Eliminating those who Aiwass had no impression of, as well as those he was sure could not possibly be involved, the remaining possibilities were actually only three.


    The Minister of Finance, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Commerce.


    What they have inmon is that all three are highly ranked and influential, over fifty, amiable in their dealings, well-liked, and middle-aged fat men who can''t see their shoes when they look down in their regr clothes¡ªthat was Aiwass''s impression of this "certain minister".


    ssic process of elimination.


    One of these three had been bought by spies sent by the Star Antimony Kingdom, delivering top-secret high-level intelligence to them regrly and secretly. The other two were innocent.


    ¡ªAnd the medium they used to transmit intelligence was "the Noble Red Society".


    Behind the Noble Red Society was the Star Antimony Kingdom, intent on overthrowing Avalon¡ªthis was the main storyline up until version 2.0.


    This minister was the internal link between Star Antimony Kingdom and Avalon.


    A bona fide traitor.


    Certainly, his letters ofmunication were top secret. Such important items surely wouldn''t leave his person.


    After all, there were many thieves within Avalon; should such an item be quietly stolen and made public, they wouldn''t have enough lives to pay with.


    If this letter fell into the hands of the Supervisory Bureau, it might not have any effect. If he had nted moles within the Bureau, perhaps it would be disposed of directly.


    But, if Aiwass got hold of it, things would be different.


    He could use this letter to track down that "someone". Then he could know which one of the ssic three choices was the traitor.


    [...My master]


    A low, roaring, raspy voice, like a lion that had just awoken, sounded by Aiwass''s ear.


    It was the Shadow Demon beneath Aiwass.


    A slender ck serpent made purely of shadows, as thick as a young girl''s arm, was climbing up Aiwass''s left leg, waist, chest, all the way to his throat.


    The eyes of the shadow serpent glowed with a sanguine light as it hissed, exhaling ck, smoky forked tongues.


    Then that lion-like voice turned into a raspy, serpentine hiss:


    [What are you... doing?]


    "As you see, destroying evidence of my own crimes," Aiwass answered, showing no fear and not even bothering to look down at the ck serpent wrapped around his neck.


    He was focused on searching Veronica for evidence, casually adding, "And looking for evidence of others'' crimes."


    Whenmunicating with demons, one must not appear tired or afraid.


    The more you fear and revere them, the more despised you be in the eyes of a demon.


    The so-called "Demons" were not creatures from the abyss as in other fantastical settings, but rather a category of Phantom Demons.


    To be precise, only those Phantom Demons thate from the Path of Transcendence are called Demons. However, after the generalization of the term, other Phantom Demons that act malevolently on different Paths, those with the attribute of Darkness, or those that look like demons, were also colloquially referred to as Demons.


    Phantom Demons are a special kind of life-form without a material body or lifespan, unable to diepletely, belonging solely to a single Path, with self-awareness and the potential to grow stronger. Most are born by drawing power from various Paths, while a few are transformed from living creatures.


    Aiwass''s sister, Yulia, was in very poor health¡ªspecifically, she was nearly in a state of perpetual fever¡ªbecause she was nurturing the seed of a Phantom Demon within her. From this perspective, she could be considered a sacrificial offering for the birth of a Phantom Demon.


    A Demon Schr who errs in their advancement has the option, through aplex ritual, to transform themselves into a Demon. In other words, they be a Phantom Demon.


    These are the two main pathways to transformation into Phantom Demons.


    Because authentic Demons all stem from the Path of Transcendence, they possess the singr trait of "aspiring to surpass the strong and despising the weak." That is, they have the ambitious nature of proud, action-oriented, and power-seeking individuals.


    And a Demon that has forged a contract can gain experience on the Path of Transcendence while serving their master. They cannot do this on their own.


    Because native-born Demonsck their own desires¡ªthey are devoid of a target to surpass.


    As long as one has a hopeful future, as well as clear goals and strengths... That is, as long as one proves their determination and ability to walk the "Path of Transcendence," a Demon will temporarily refrain from betraying its master.


    If a demon recognized a temporary master, even if the person fell into a desperate situation, they wouldn''t flee or even would fight for them until thest moment. Because demons wouldn''t vanish along with their master''s death, they didn''t fear dying. If the master managed to survive a certain-death situation, the strong fate of transcending hardships would greatly satisfy the demons.


    Therefore, if a demon felt that youcked purity, ability or had a hopeless future, and couldn''t provide enough sustenance from an act of rebellion, it would start nning how to leave you.


    It doesn''t sound too bad, even quite normal¡ªjust like changingpanies if one thinks their boss isn''t up to par.


    But once a contract had been signed, if the Demon Schr didn''t die, the demon couldn''t leave their body. So once a demon became displeased with the master they had contracted with, it would find a way to kill them. A demon wasn''t allowed to harm its own master, but there were still many ways to kill a person.


    Many Demon Schrs would only summon demons that were slightly stronger than themselves. It was because they were overly wary of demons, worried that they couldn''t satisfy the demons'' appetites.


    But Aiwass wasn''t afraid at all.


    In his view, these demons were like workers with ambitious goals.


    He found that very endearing.


    Some capable and determined ones would look for bigpanies, which are high-level Demon Schrs to submit their resumes to; but there were also demons who liked to respond to low-level Demon Schrs, simr to workers who preferred startups.


    Some were ipetent and not wanted by bigpanies, the lesser and lesser demons; some wanted to start theirpany butcked capital, so they used their skills to gain shares in startuppanies, intending to seize control one day. These higher-level demons deliberately responded to calls from low-level Demon Schrs,ing because the other side couldn''t control them. There were also some that were simply tricked¡ªsent resumes to a bigpany but ended up in a subsidiary with lots of work and little pay.


    This was like being summoned by a high-level Demon Schr and then, once controlled, being handed over for a low-level Demon Schr to contract with. In the legallly operating Star Antimony Kingdom''s Path of Transcendence, their tutors did just that to catch demons for their students.


    Aiwass''s Shadow Demon was this type as well.


    Of course, the situation of the Shadow Demon was a bit moreplicated¡ªbecause Aiwass himself was the bait that tricked it.


    The essence of a wage card turned boss.


    If only the Shadow Demon was a bit stronger... After Aiwass fed it some other demons as sustenance, allowing it to evolve again, it would qualify to be sealed as a Great Beast. At that point, it wouldn''t be a demon anymore, nor could it possibly betray him.


    But for now, Aiwass still needed to particrly demonstrate his abilities.


    ...No choice, it was a worker''s market.


    He still had to put on a bit of a show.


    Afterward, once he signed a lifelong contract, he wouldn''t have to worry about the Shadow Demon devouring its master.


    Though the Shadow Demon was sealed in a wheelchair by Aiwass, it had always stayed in his shadow. Everything that had happened before was certainly witnessed by it.


    This was also another purpose of Aiwass''s trip¡ªby showcasing hisyout abilities, scheming level, and standard of lies along the way, to stabilize the job-seeking demon that was tricked. To give the Shadow Demon enough mental sustenance to gain its approval.


    "Now, what do you think of me?"


    Aiwass asked casually in return.


    At these words, the ck snake on his neck melted and dripped down, transforming into a pure ck hound.


    It affectionately nuzzled Aiwass''s calf, making a low sound.


    [Perfect, delicious, outstanding...]


    Clearly, the Shadow Demon was quite satisfied.


    The ck dog articted each word clearly with cadence: [I am looking forward immensely to your future... our future.]


    "¡ªSince that''s the case."


    Aiwass casually discarded the letter that belonged to him, "Then destroy it and leave."


    [Hehehe...]


    The Shadow Demon chuckled with a deep, lowugh.


    After several seconds, it finally responded:


    [As you wish... Master.]


    [Looking forward to the time you wake me up again...]


    [I hope to feast on real flesh then.]


    The ck dog leaped up, snatched the letter, and uponnding, submerged into the mire-like shadows, disappearing along with it.


    The letter was directly dissolved into nothingness. Just like a stic bag being roasted by fire, turning ck, shrinking, wrinkling, diminishing, vanishing without a trace.


    Without a doubt, if what it bit into was a living being, it would also be dragged into the shadows and melted away.


    This was certainly not something Aiwass, with only level one "Shadow Ability," could aplish. It was the work of the Shadow Demon itself.


    ¡ªThis was the Shadow Demon showing off its "hunting" capabilities to its master.

 Chapter 31: 15: Transcendent Ring: Noble Red

    ```


    After an unspoken agreement, wherein both parties had showcased their abilities, objectives, and intentions, Aiwass and the Shadow Demon temporarily reached a consensus.


    As the Shadow Demon submerged back into Aiwass'' shadow, the murky spread of darkness that had oozed across the entire bar was retracted into the shadow beneath him.


    It was as if a pool had opened its drain, and soon the shallowke of shadow had be "dry."


    The warm winter sunlight once again streamed in, filling the room of the bar.


    It was as though the previous damp cover of shadow was merely an illusion.


    ¡ªVery good.


    Aiwass breathed a sigh of relief.


    Now, the four main tasks at hand had beenpleted.


    He had aplished his revenge, killed the "friend" who had betrayed him; sessfully eradicated his incriminating evidence; obtained the next clue for his investigation; and awakened and soothed the Shadow Demon.


    Now, it was time for the delightful task of opening the treasure chest!


    Aiwass carefully listened and found that Hayna was still searching below, and had note upstairs.


    ¡ªLoot licking time has arrived!


    He rubbed his hands together eagerly, prepared to search for his valuable loot.


    Aiwass quickly found a thumb-sized round box that looked like a container for cooling oil. It was etched with an image of a crescent moon sporting a human face and inscribed with a line of small characters "1886-03-071, Living Silver Workshop."


    This item was familiar to him.


    It was a dose of Dream Intoxicant, a special product from the Kingdom of Star Antimony.


    "Nice find. What a great start."


    The corners of Aiwass'' mouth lifted slightly as he carelessly pocketed it.


    Dream Intoxicant was a type of magic potion that could stabilize dreams and anesthetize the body to prevent easy awakening; an alchemical product of the Path of Bnce. It could also be used as an anesthetic for surgeries, but its primary purpose was as an auxiliary substance to strengthen the sess rate during advancement.


    In a cultivation fantasy novel, it would be roughly equivalent to a Foundation Establishment Pill. At lower levels, it significantly boosts the probability of breakthrough sess.


    Within the yermunity, Dream Intoxicant was known as a "minor advancement potion," able to increase the sess rate of advancement rituals. It was somewhat like those ssic MMORPGs where you can use potions to enhance the probability of sessful equipment enhancement.


    In the game setting, advancing a professional level involved entering a dream to hold aplicated ritual with a very high failure rate. But in the game, it was represented by a cold percentage of advancement sess, and preparing certain specific rituals or materials could improve those odds.


    If sessful, dazzling effects would signal the sess of the advancement, with the professional level cap increasing by ten. Then, three options would pop up for you to select one.


    This was the pathway trait obtained from sessful advancement.


    If it failed, you would be demoted back to level 19. yers would simply lose their materials and prepare for another attempt at advancement; for NPCs, a failure meant waiting for a cooldown that increased with level and could take at least half a month.


    Veronica was currently a level 19 Demon Schr and was nearly ready for her advancement; alternatively, she might have failed several times already and thus had prepared Dream Intoxicant for herself.


    Judging by the number of ritual spells she mastered, she must have been stuck at the second energy level for a while now¡ªwith a cap on her level, though her skills could still improve, it would no longer increase her professional level.


    The difficulty for Aiwass to rise from the first energy level to the second energy level was not great, with almost certain sess. He wouldn''t need it for now.


    He would use itter when advancing from level 19 to 20.


    Also, because Aiwass was progressing on two paths, he would need two doses.


    Dream Intoxicant wasn''t an exceedingly rare magic potion, so it didn''t warrant special treasure. It was reasonably priced in Star Antimony at forty-six White Crown Coins, but due to exclusively being handcrafted by alchemists, the supply was limited; hence it was by reservation and quantity restricted.


    Moreover, for the time being, it would be somewhat challenging to purchase in Avalon.


    For the past two years, the Kingdom of Star Antimony had been an enemy nation to Avalon.


    All alchemical products from Star Antimony were restricted from export to Avalon; correspondingly, Avalon banned the import of alchemical products from Star Antimony and likewise forbade the export of its own minerals and lumber to Star Antimony.


    The current supply of Dream Intoxicant in Avalon, apart from a few reserves... would probably only be from scalpers charging ten times the price.


    Five hundred White Coins was just the starting bid.


    That was a price Hayna couldn''t even dream of¡ªroughly equivalent to about a decade''s wages for an ordinary worker.


    Aiwass, on the other hand, could afford it.


    He just didn''t want the scalpers to make such easy money.


    He also did not n to leave it for the Supervisory Bureau¡ªif they obtained it, they would also sell it at a high price, and most likely to the Moriarty Family.


    Because everyone knew that Mr. Aiwass had recently embarked on the path of Transcendence, bing a Priest. He too needed to stock up on Dream Intoxicant in advance.


    ¡ªThen there was no need to let the middleman make a profit from the difference.


    Unfortunately, after finding the Dream Intoxicant, Aiwass failed to find any other valuable items.


    He only came across some ritual materials.


    But those were human materials, such as centas or baby scalps. Not only were they of little value, but he also had no use for them.


    Aiwass had sworn not to use materials from his own kind for rituals¡ªand indeed, he did not fancy such cruel practices. So, he didn''t take them with him. Instead, he left them on Veronica''s body as evidence of her crimes.


    Her red robe was actually valuable.


    ...But Aiwass felt he probably couldn''t strip it off her.


    ```


    ```


    Setting aside the fact that it was a dress, Aiwass couldn''t fit into it; besides, Veronica wasn''t wearing much underneath, so pulling the dress down like that would be somewhat perverse...


    Of course, there wasn''t much use for him to have the red robe anyway.


    In the game, yers didn''t have identities, which is why they could infiltrate The Association using a red robe. But now he was Aiwass Moriarty; there was no way he could pass Noble Red Society''s vetting process.


    If he actually managed to join, it would be the Society that would threaten him in turn. Because once exposed, Aiwass would no longer be able to mingle in the Kingdom of Avalon. Even his foster father, elder brother, and Yulia could suffer consequences because of him.


    "...Huh?"


    Suddenly, Aiwass found a brass ring shimmering with bright golden brilliance.


    It was engraved with a fist full of wounds, gripping so tightly that blood dripped from between its fingers. The sparkling "blood," in reality, was powdered ruby. Under the sunlight, it reflected a sticky, dark red luster akin to real blood.


    The next moment, a light screen popped up:


    [Noble Red]


    [Transcendent essory (Light Purple)]


    [essory - Ring]


    [Trait: Minor Decree Resistance (Triggered only by Transcendence Path)]


    [Spell: Severe Coughing Spell (Once Daily, 1/1)]


    [Required: Darkness 2]


    [Gesture, Medium Distance, Immediate Effect]


    ["¡ª¡ªWe are all fists of wounds, hands of blood, and des without scales."]


    Yes! Good loot!


    Aiwass''s eyes lit up.


    This was the best gear that coulde off of Da Zi!


    Minor Decree Resistance allowed first-energy-level Decree Spells and Rhythm Tactics - Scold from the Path of Authority''s interference and control effects to be nullified and weakened the control effects of anything below the third energy level by one level.


    The Path of Authority was the mostmon power seen in Avalon. If Aiwass wore this ring, any Transcendents under level ten who deployed control skills couldn''t subdue him; the strength of control skills from Transcendents under level thirty would be reduced by about ten levels. The only downside was that the ring was a bit too conspicuous; wearing it would make it easy for others who knew their stuff to mistake him for a member of the Noble Red Society.


    But the ring''s effect was indeed excellent, exceptionally useful in the early stages... and Aiwass was on the Path of Transcendence, able to trigger the passive effect. It suited carrying in his pocket, to be worn only when necessary.


    As for the ring''s affiliated spell "Severe Coughing Spell," although it sounded a bit silly, it was actually quite practical.


    The fact that the ring itself was needed to cast the spell, coupled with the requirement of two points of Dark Attribute Mana to release it, made it clear it was not some low-end trinket.


    "Coughing Spell" belonged to the first-energy-level spells of the Transcendence Path. Its effect was to cause a person to enter a choking state. If Aiwass got his hands on a relevant book of mysteries now, he could learn this spell.


    "Severe Coughing Spell" was the second-energy-level upgraded version. Its effect was to plunge a person immediately into a state of severe coughing. Judging from the description, it was like having chili oil or seawater poured down one''s nose, causing seconds of uncontroble coughing before one could recover.


    If someone was constantly coughing violently, then it''s difficult for them to exert strength.


    Since they cannot breathe properly, their strength would weaken somewhat. In the game, the effect was described as "damage -10%, hit rate reduced by 10%, and attack and movement speeds decreased by 10% for three seconds," but Aiwass thought the figures were definitely conservative.


    In reality, if someone was suddenly struck by this move without warning, it was entirely possible for them to expose a fatal w.


    Simrly, a person in a state of severe coughing would also be unable to speak, let alone shout at someone.


    Even after the effect ended, they might not be able to speak clearly for a while. The mucous membranes would have been damaged, making it easy to slip into coughing again identally.


    And the Decree-ss abilities of the Path of Authority all required shouting.


    From this angle, the ring seemed specifically designed to counter the powers of the Supervisory Bureau. Once discovered, it could be used to hold back enemies and then make an immediate escape.


    Aiwass couldn''t help but feel fortunate.


    ¡ª¡ªThankfully, he had sold a w, enticing Veronica tomit to using Hayna as the point of attack.


    She probably thought that his shotcked power to pierce through her defenses. It would be better to endure a shot and then y dead, using the moment Hayna let her guard down to cast the spell and take her out.


    So she didn''t want to appear too threatening¡ªwhat she needed was Hayna''s underestimation.


    Those from the academy were very prone to exposing mental weaknesses.


    But Veronica knew that... and of course, Aiwass knew it too.


    He was aware that Veronica looked down on Hayna, so he deliberately set the stage by pretending to target her, allowing Veronica the opportunity to carry out her n. As Veronica watched her n getting closer to sess, she also rxed her guard.


    Luckily, he had dug a pit and chose a righteous, sneaky pitfall attack!


    Otherwise, if a real fight ensued, even if Veronica''s continuous spellcasting didn''t hit, she could simply grab and use the "Severe Coughing Spell" to weaken Hayna.


    Moreover, the ring itself was proof of membership in the Noble Red Society. Only full members could obtain it, unlike affiliated personnel like the Evil Bartender who didn''t have such an item.


    Even though it was just a piece of equipment in the game...


    Aiwass thought.


    In reality, it might have other uses.


    Just as Aiwass dared not wear it on an ordinary day, fearing being misunderstood about his identity¡ªthe reverse might also be true.

 Chapter 32: 16: The Temptation of the Demon

    When Hayna came back from the tavern''s basement, she felt as if she was almost full of dust.


    When she went down, she was actually very nervous and apprehensive. Hayna always felt that there might be some sort of trap, mechanism, or curse in this basement¡ªthere might even be a Familiar being raised, or one could possibly see synthetic beasts in jars.


    But to her disappointment, after cautiously exploring for half a day, she found nothing at all.


    There wasn''t even the kind of altar filled with the smell of blood and various limbs described in novels. Aside from a few areas with signs of habitation, there was dust everywhere. The most numerous items ced around were various bottles and barrels of alcohol which she did not recognize.


    The double bed in the corner, perhaps due to poor venttion andck of sunlight, was damp and musty. She even felt a bit of sympathy for those Demon Schrs¡ªtheir quality of life was too poor.


    The "Alchemy Cipher" that Aiwass wanted, she had found quite effortlessly.


    It was a book that looked like a textbook, about the thickness needed for a mandatory coursesting one semester. It was only about two fingers thick and one and a half palms long. Unlike a textbook, it had a unique dark red leather cover that felt like cowhide.


    It looked very expensive.


    At least... worth ten White Coins, right?


    Perhaps even more, but this price was enough to make someone think about stealing it.


    Aiwasscked life experience¡ªcarrying such an item outside, one would certainly attract attention. Even a thiefpletely ignorant of the Transcendent world and Taboo knowledge could easily judge its value from the material of the book.


    And this evil female Magician, she must also cherish this book.


    Because the book was ced on the bedside desk, next to it was a cup filled with clear water¡ªthe few ces in the basement where there was no dust.


    It was evident that the dangerous bald female Magician was just reading this book before they arrived.


    In the empty space of the basement, Hayna did see a ritual circle. To make room, it seemed that the residents had moved the barrels into the corner, even stacking them two high, to clear an area with a diameter of only about five steps.


    Inside the ritual Ring, ten names of unclear meaning were inscribed. In the middle were also drawn strange geometric patterns, of which she could barely make out the symbol meant to represent "moon."


    Above the ritual circle, there wasn''t any blood or severed limbs either.


    She only saw an empty swaddling cloth, quietly lying in the very center of the ring. Just in case, she did not lift the cloth.


    But to prevent the ritual from running automatically, she first used the Sword in her hand to cut all the ritual lines, thoroughly destroying the ritual circle before daring to start investigating.


    This was also the method taught in school¡ªif youe across a ritual arranged by the followers of Transcendence Path, don''t walk into it casually, nor take anything out of it. First, take a sharp object that has been Blessed or Cursed, and gently cut along all the lines. For instance, for a circle, simply make a cut at any ce; if it''s a triangle, make three cuts, if it''s a hexagram, make six cuts.


    Hayna remembered these teachings very clearly.


    Because while learning this information, she had the excited illusion that she was fighting against Demons. She had carefully studied techniques for countering various illegal Transcendents, even techniques forbating Demons.


    But it was not until she was about to graduate that she learned from her colleagues... in fact, more than ny percent of Inspectors might never see a living Demon in their lifetime. If they did see one, the chances were they wouldn''t have the opportunity to brag about it alive.


    Because a Demon wouldn''t appear on its own. When a Demon''s summoner dies, the Demon gets banished.


    This meant that when you find a Demon alone, the evil Magician who summoned the Demon must be nearby¡ªand has most likely already noticed you. But you haven''t been able to find them.


    And when you really encounter such a formidable enemy, it''s generally up to the white-gloved ones of the Supervisory Court. It''s not their turn to act.


    So Hayna fell into a very frustrated mood.


    Despite possessing a great deal of specialized knowledge, she essentially could not apply it at work.


    In most cases, the work involved checking taxes, various forms of identification, maintaining public order, inspecting hygiene, safety hazards and prohibited items¡ªtedious, overwhelmingly busy, andpletelycking any sense of adventure.


    Even in most cases, there was no need to draw the Sword. Ordinary stupid thieves and thugs could be stopped in their tracks just by her shouting. And for those who could not be stopped by a shout, at least a numbers game was in y¡ªfacing a formidable enemy alone with no quick victory was a serious rule vition, punishable by solitary confinement.


    And once the numbers were in, the Sword was even less necessary. In such situations, engaging the criminals in closebat could actually make it hard for teammates to intervene. It was better to use guns for a cleaner resolution.


    As a result, the Rhythm Tactics tested during the hiring process were actually of no use at work.


    Hayna was quite dissatisfied with this.


    ¡ªHad she known that the work at the Supervisory Bureau was so dull, she might as well have joined the military as a Sky Cavalry member!


    Her Gryphon had been going through two months of processing, and she still hadn''t seen a single feather!


    Hayna had dreamed that once her gear and Gryphon arrived, she would show off at school, riding her Gryphon, d in armor, sword in hand. She would undoubtedly look amazing, and her ssmates and juniors would surelye to admire her, and the teachers would definitely use her as an example to instruct those younger ones¡ª

 Chapter 33: 16: The Temptation of the Demon_2

    ...but now it seemed that she might not be able to touch her Gryphon before she graduated.


    Hayna coughed and pushed the door open with her left elbow. Her right hand gently fluttered in the air in front of her, while her left hand carefully carried the book as if she was holding a te with a teacup on it.


    She saw that Mr. Aiwass was sitting quietly and neatly in his wheelchair, as if scared of the smell of the corpse, keeping a very long distance from the frightfully dead body.


    "Does it smell too bloody?"


    Hayna casually asked,ing over to hand the book to Aiwass, "Hide it quickly... The inspectors from Lohar District will be here soon. Don''t let them see it."


    As she passed by the corpse, the strong smell of blood instantly surged up, making her cough even more violently.


    "This is the one, thank you, Senior Hayna!"


    Aiwass happily received the book, responding sweetly.


    Hayna''s lips curved up slightly. She liked the feeling of being needed.


    She hadn''t noticed during the fight, but now that she was idle, her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the body. And the smell was getting stronger, choking her more and more.


    Eventually, Hayna couldn''t bear it any longer. She pulled a white cloth from the nearby table and covered the upper body of the female magician''s corpse.


    "If it bothers you, why didn''t you cover it?"


    "Because I was thinking, we need to preserve the crime scene..."


    Aiwass hesitated before saying, "Wouldn''t covering it with a cloth destroy the evidence on the body?"


    "What?"


    Hayna was stunned for a moment.


    She turned to look at the body again, instinctively feeling that it might make sense.


    ...but why hadn''t the school taught this?


    Unable to think of a reason at the moment, she turned back and stubbornly said, "Because we don''t need to bother with any clues. We all know she was shot dead by you... Is there anything to investigate? I saw it clearly. I myself am a living witness, no other evidence is needed."


    "Of course, this isn''t your fault. Your action in firing the gun was a brave act of justice, and I''ll make sure to exin this to the Supervisory Bureau."


    Having said this, she couldn''t help but admire¡ªAiwass really was a well-mannered, polite good kid.


    ¡ªCompletely different from herself.


    Hayna sighed with worry.


    So, she decided toe clean.


    She began to speak hesitantly, "Mr. Aiwass."


    "What is it?" Aiwass was momentarily startled.


    "There''s something I need to apologize for..."


    "No no, Senior, there''s no need for such formality... Aren''t we friends?"


    "That''s exactly why I have to say it."


    Hayna''s face showed her guilt: "While looking for your book downstairs, I couldn''t resist flipping through a few pages."


    ¡ªThe truth was, she had been worried there might be some curse or poison in the book.


    Feeling robust in health, she decided to test it out herself.


    But there was no need to say that. It sounded too much like an excuse. It was better to simply admit she wanted to read it.


    ...Because she actually did want to read it a bit.


    If it was the Hayna of the past, she would never have sumbed to such twisted and wicked temptations. But on her way here, after listening to Aiwass, she suddenly felt that she might have been too rigid before.


    Her desire to be "superior" reflected aspirations for the Path of Transcendence; her view of Aiwass as handsome, with an elegant and gentle demeanor, was influenced by the Path of "Beauty" or perhaps "Love".


    Simrly, after seeing the book herself, she was ovee with curiosity... She was touched by the "Bnce" and "Wisdom".


    The Path of Bnce represents knowledge and science, the road to an equally perceived world; the essence of Wisdom, on the other hand, rtes to the mystical, rational, and the pursuit of truth. All this is quite normal, a part of what makes up a regr person.


    There is nothing shameful about that.


    What truly warranted an apology was that she touched someone else''s things and read someone else''s book without permission.


    And what made her feel ashamed was... she had to admit that there was indeed something tempting about the contents of the book.


    After just flipping through a few pages, she was immersed in that mysterious and astonishing world, her eyes opened wide.


    Hayna had been downstairs for about fifteen minutes, more than ten of which she spent looking at the book. But she could only browse through it quickly before she felt she had to go upstairs and check... Otherwise, Mr. Aiwass alone with a corpse in a room would be scared.


    After all, this was the crime-ridden Lohar District.


    What if a viin came along at this time?


    Mr. Aiwass is too fragile to defend himself properly. One wrong shot from him and he might identally kill someone.


    Killing the Demon Schr is no big deal, he might even bemended; but if a civilian was killed, he could end up in prison.


    And what if there were more people involved? Surely, he didn''t have many bullets left. He might also be afraid to shoot, or his weapon could be seized...


    Thinking this, Hayna hurried upstairs, worried, only to find Mr. Aiwass unscathed.


    Then, when she turned back, she felt that itch again.


    The previous browse did nothing to quench her thirst; on the contrary, it made her even more curious.


    "I am a little curious," she admitted after taking a deep breath, openly acknowledging her desire, "I want to see... that book again."


    "Could Ie over to your ce to see it afterward?"


    "But as an Inspector, it wouldn''t look good for you to keeping over to our house for no reason, right?" Mr. Aiwass gently refused, "It might give rise to gossip, both for my father and for you. You know, there are some Inspectors who take money from merchants to act unfairly¡ªand I mean, even if you don''t do that, you can''t refute when others say you do. Because the things you actually do can''t be exined."


    "...Indeed," Hayna nodded dejectedly, "You''re right."


    "However," Mr. Aiwass shifted his tone, "You saved me, avenged me, and helped me retrieve this book¡ªmorally and rationally, I owe you thanks for your help."


    "So if you want to see this book, you could arrange to meet me during your free time. You should know of those more private spaces, right? Or if not, I can bring it to school. The school always has such ces."


    Narrowing his eyes, Mr. Aiwass revealed a kind and gentle smile like a sly fox, persuasively adding, "Work can be exhausting sometimes, right? If there''s anything toin about or if there''s been any big incident at the Supervisory Bureautely, you can talk to me about it then, have a chat."


    She''s actually interested in Alchemy...


    An idea clicked in Mr. Aiwass''s mind. Now that he knew her personal interests, things became much easier. Hayna could easily be his inside connection embedded within the Supervisory Bureau.


    ...Learning to do good is not easy, learning to do bad just slides right out.


    The upstanding and righteous Senior Hayna, in the moment her steadfast beliefs faltered, was so effortlessly tempted by him.


    It''s hard to tell who the real demon is.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, Mr. Aiwass felt that if he became a demon, he might outdo the Shadow Demon professionally.


    Hayna, upon hearing this, was exceedingly grateful.


    She respected Mr. Aiwass''s generosity and the empathetic kindness he showed, and involuntarily she started to speak to her junior in an honorific tone, "Thank you, Mr. Aiwass! Only... wouldn''t this trouble you too much?"


    Mr. Aiwass just smiled and waved his hand dismissively, "No problem, it''s not a bother. This is called mutual benefit."


    "¡ªAfter all, I''m quite curious about the daily workings of the Supervisory Bureau as well."

 Chapter 34: 17 Nurturing Secret Sequel

    The Avalon Kingdom, ss Ind, White Queen District Inspection Bureau.


    The Inspection Bureau was still exceptionally busy this morning.


    Men and women in light or leather armor hurried by, looking smart and brave. On the wall of Director Kent''s office still hung the silver-white majestic head of the Silver-Crowned Dragon¡ªconstantly watching over them.


    Now in his forties but still physically robust, Director Kent sat in his leather seat.


    He sat with a straight back, his round shoulders, and big arms filling out his loose clothing. His bronze skin and the flesh on his face gave him the look of a fierce and tough man. A deep scar ran from above his left eye to the corner of his mouth, and with his ck eyepatch, he resembled a one-eyed pirate.


    As a matter of ritual and etiquette, even though it had been more than ten years since Director Kent had taken part in front-linebat, he still had to wear armor in the office and maintain a proper posture and demeanor. His arms, abdomen, and calves¡ªareas less burdened¡ªwere covered in metal silver-white armor, while the rest was adorned with shiny armor tes.


    If he were not a Transcendent of no low level, he would probably be exhausted just by sitting there all day.


    Four hundred and twenty years ago, the founding Monarch Lancelot I of the Avalon Kingdom established three major judicial institutions.


    The Supervisory Bureau, which was responsible for "inspecting and protecting the people"; the Supervisory Court, which oversaw "inspection of knight officials"; and the Arbitration Hall, which decided "the righteousness and evil of affairs." At their inception, these three judicial institutions had equal status among each other, all manned by Knights of the Round Table who could enter the Senate to take on important responsibilities.


    The national emblem of the Avalon Kingdom is a green eye set within a silver-white triangle that symbolizes power.


    The eye signifies the royal family, representing the still healthy, nearly eighty-year-old Queen Sofia I of today.


    Protecting the royal family, the silver triangle refers to the Supervisory Bureau, the Supervisory Court, and the Arbitration Hall.


    But with the progress of the times, the affairs that the Supervisory Bureau needed to handle became more and more numerous: taxation, safety, health, firefighting, public order, censorship, imprisonment... As a result, the Supervisory Bureau gradually subdivided into many departments within itself, establishing branches everywhere, recruiting arge number of apprentice inspectors, Inspectors, and Chief Inspectors to be responsible for local affairs, and thus, their power was also disseminated.


    The Supervisory Court and the Arbitration Hall, because they dealt with more difficult and specific issues, did not expand in scale. The former evolved into an organization simr to a special service agency¡ªresponsible for scrutinizing the loyalty of officials, the moral integrity of hereditary Knight Families, the disciplinary transgressions of grassroots inspectors, as well as monitoring spies from other countries, or independently collecting intelligence abroad; while thetter became today''s courtroom.


    Themon point is that they are now both one level higher than the Supervisory Bureau.


    As a result, in the Supervisory Bureau, anyone with the strength of the fourth energy level had to be transferred to the Supervisory Court and the Arbitration Hall. Attractively termed "after all, you don''t need such talent anyway." Even in the White Queen District, a core area adjacent to ss Staircase, its Director Kent only had the third energy level.


    The young girl named Hayna who was recently transferred in was just over twenty years old, and her strength was already nearly on par with Director Kent, who was heading straight for his fifties.


    Kent didn''t even need to think about it to know that the Supervisory Court would definitelye for her.


    This was an era of producing geniuses. Hayna, Sherlock... these new-generation prodigies were far stronger than those old-timers who grew up in an era of peace, like himself.


    This boded ill, Kent thought to himself.


    Perhaps it was a prelude to theing of chaotic times...


    He picked up the telephone on the desk and started turning the dial. 0¡ª1¡ª2, the call connected.


    "Have Haynae to my office," Directive Kent instructed.


    "And have someone fetch our counselor as well."


    After hanging up the phone, he tossed the ss Staircase Daily onto the desk and walked over to the bookshelf.


    The front page of this newspaper headline featured a portrait of Hayna with the young master of the Moriarty Family.


    The handsome young man with the kind smile sat confidently in an elf-styled wheelchair, a nket draped over his knees, hands folded in front of him, speaking genially and naturally about something. Hayna, standing behind him, was upright, hand on her sword hilt, muscles tensed.


    It was as if he noticed the photographer, as though he was greeting someone familiar around the photographer.


    The young man''s gaze suddenly shifted from the reporter to the direction of the camera lens.


    He revealed a sunny, tender smile, raised his hand to wave toward this side. It gave the impression that he was smiling and waving at the reader looking at the newspaper.


    The next moment, the picture jumped back to the beginning. Aiwass continued sitting in his wheelchair, talking earnestly to the reporter.


    ¡ªThis was an ability of the "Path of Beauty," known as "Demonic Painting."


    In theory, the Path of Beauty was a path legitively banned in Avalon, but Master Yanis was the exception. This world-renowned Elf Painter and founder of ss Daily News Agency, Avalon''srgest and only news agency that could be called official.


    Every day, the ss Daily News Agency was responsible forpiling the most important intelligence of the Avalon Kingdom for the royal family and the ministers in the Round Table Hall. The three major judicial institutions also provided free copies of the ss Staircase Daily for their staff to read.


    Perhaps it was a trend-following move, or to keep up with upper-level policies, or maybe just to show one''s concern for the kingdom''s politics. Some wealthy individuals, neither involved in politics nor serving as officials, would also join the excitement and buy the ss Staircase Daily. Subsequently, a number of university students would purchase it too, as a talking point among the young schrs.


    Although each issue included a "Demonic Painting" with a duration of fifteen seconds, the cost of the materials for each newspaper alone amounted to a Red Coin, its price was not considered high. As Master Yanis did not rely on it for profit. The retail price of each issue of the ss Staircase Daily was only two Red Coins and five copper coins¡ªthe five copper coins were the profit margin left for the distributors, and sometimes there were discounts. Even those of modest means could afford it.


    Such newspapers that featured animated images were a novel experience. Even though theycked sound and were in ck and white, the pictures moved¡ªat the very least, it was the most cost-effective way for ordinary people to truly experience the power of the Transcendent.


    For this issue of the ss Staircase Daily, the header featuring Aiwass Moriarty alone took up a full twelve seconds. Only three seconds were left for a bicycle advertisement.


    Director Kent strongly suspected that it was because Aiwass was too handsome and his smile too charming that Master Yanis had allotted him a full twelve seconds.


    "Such a pleasant smile... It''s never a sign of anything good."


    Director Kent, with his beast-like intuition, curled his lip and murmured under his breath, "Who knows whose daughter he ns to ensnare..."


    ...However, he saw very clearly.


    Being able to handle such a significant case alone at this age, he would undoubtedly be a much higher-ranking individual than himself in the future.


    This time they had stumbled upon a great aplishment by chance, and it was only right to give sufficient reward¡ªthey normally wouldn''t have gotten such a significant task, as that would have been the domain of the Supervisory Court.


    Moreover, it was an opportunity to establish connections with Professor Moriarty.


    Therefore, the selected reward must be substantial; otherwise, it would be considered garbage to the Moriarty Family. Presenting something deemed unworthy would instead disgrace the Supervisory Bureau.


    ...What a hassle.


    "A Priest on the Path of Devotion... a student from the Theological Seminary..."


    Director Kent murmured to himself as he searched through the bookshelf.


    Suddenly, his movements came to a halt. He looked towards a corner.


    Therey a book with a dark cover, its spine bearing no name.


    The director picked it up with one hand, while the other gently flicked the cover. Sparks scattered from the pages, like a hammer striking an anvil.


    "This one might do," he murmured to himself, reading the title: "Nurturing Secret Sequel"... Judging by the name, it ought to rte to ''Priest''."


    This entire bookshelf was filled with contraband seized by those below during book raids, valuable items.


    The Kingdom of Avalon strictly prohibited epting bribes in any form, as that act could undermine "Authority." Conversely, profiting appropriately within the scope of one''s official capacity was tacitly permitted. This was meant to prevent officials and ministers from being bought by foreign spies¡ªespecially spies from the Kingdom of Star Antimony¡ªor from selling important intelligence and internal resources to the public, both actions that could also undermine "Authority."


    One of the tacitly permitted methods of profiting included selling confiscated banned books to the Knight Family¡ªfrom that perspective, this bookshelf could also be considered Director Kent''s personal property.


    Kent was not a forerunner on the Path of Devotion; he was certain he couldn''t open the book.


    But judging by the name and the burst of sparks, this was in every way a mystical tome belonging to the Path of Devotion.


    After the death of a Transcendent, their soul would fall into the "Ninefold River" of the Dream Realm, flowing into the Path they had traveled the farthest on. The power therein would be "Path Traits" obtained by followers during their advancement rituals, while their memories and knowledge would scatter across thend, chaotically drifting amidst the flora, fruits, sea of clouds, and tides of the Dream Realm, bing part of the materials that constituted the Dream Realm.


    The Dream Traversing Monks of the Path of Wisdom could capture and collect these fragmented, scattered secret teachings from the Dream Realm.


    They wouldpile them into books. These mystical tomes filled with magical knowledge were called "Primordial Texts."


    The writing in "Primordial Texts" was in Juntu script, anguage long extinct, and iprehensible to most people. Typically, a local trantor from the Path of Wisdom was needed to forcibly trante it into understandablenguage.


    As per the conventions in the trantionmunity, such primordial texts capturing knowledge from the Dream Realm and recorded in Juntu script were uniformly tranted as some sort of Secret Sequel. The prefix depended on the trantor''s understanding of the contents of the primordial text.


    Usually, one could acquire aplete mystical skill from a Secret Sequel¡ªwhile it might be possible for it to have been replicated by others inter times, there was also a significant chance that the skill had been lost.


    Though not necessarily useful, the skills were nevertheless lost.


    In other words, they were something that couldn''t be acquired through normal means...


    "As a prize and ''gift,'' it would be prestigious enough," Director Kent said to himself.

 Chapter 35: 18 Sherlock Hermes

    ```


    In the hallway of the Supervisory Bureau, a young man with anguid demeanor, ck hair, and brown eyes leaned against the wall, deeply engrossed in the newspaper he held.


    He looked quite young, probably just over twenty, like a college graduate fresh out of university.


    His build was lean, with a sharp, hawk-like nose and thin lips that were perpetually pursed, giving him a somewhat severe appearance.


    As he read the newspaper, Hayna stood by his side, incessantly mumbling something.


    "...that''s the way it is, Mr. Sherlock! I''ve told you everything I remember, so can you answer that question for me now?"


    Hayna was clearly excited.


    Not only had she made a name for herself, but she had also been interviewed and featured on the front page of the ss Staircase Daily. She might have even caught the Queen''s attention¡ªthis made her feel as if she were walking on clouds, almost deliriously happy.


    After realizing she might have be famous, she resolutely clenched her teeth and spent all her money, except what was necessary for daily life, on that issue of the ss Staircase Daily. She nned to take them all home during the holidays to share with rtives and friends.


    Today, she happened to run into Counselor Sherlock at work, and with a mix of excitement at seeing her former idol and a desire to show off, she asked him a question¡ª


    "...What question?"


    Sherlock Hermes looked up and casually asked, "Are you asking ''why Mr. Aiwass could guess there was something off with that bartender''? That''s simple because he''s a very smart man.


    "He knew the bartender''s name, which means he had been here before; Mr. Aiwass carries himself upright, sits with good posture, and it''s clear he is not an old man¡ªthe shoulders of an old person are different from a young man''s. Of course, considering the bartender might not understand this anatomy, I think more conclusive, more direct evidence would be his boots.


    "Handcrafted Elven boots made with mystical skills of Alchemy and Blessing. They deodorize, absorb sweat, ventte, are waterproof, and increase grip to prevent slipping. A pair of such shoes would cost at least one hundred and twenty Silver Crowns. Not something amon Knight Family could afford.


    "Bars in Lohar District often engage in illegal activities, and they are good at sizing people up. He could not have missed such obvious characteristics. Yet, he recognized Mr. Aiwass but deliberately addressed him as ''old sir''... Do you think a bartender from Lohar District would utter such polite and cultured words?


    "Moreover, why wasn''t he afraid when he saw you? One of the jobs of the Supervisory Bureau is to collect taxes by force from people who appear not to have paid them. To extract the little savings they have, it would be strange if they did not resent or fear you. People in business would fear you even more¡ªbecause their ounts usually have some irregrities.


    "So why wasn''t he afraid of you? That means he didn''t care if you were going to ask him for money. Or maybe he''s simply not a local¡ªor even possibly not an Avalonian, unaware of what an unnned appearance of an Inspector in this country means.


    "And the image in the newspaper was clear, the wheelchair only highlighted the style of his boots¡ªeven more so, his Elvish Style precision wheel-chair. The etchings in the Elvish Language were very clear¡ªMoriarty. Here, in the open. Didn''t you see it?


    "I mean, Miss Hayna... the Professor mentioned you graduated with high marks. I would think you passed in Elvish, didn''t you?"


    "...Ah, yes. I recognize it."


    Embarrassed, Hayna replied, "I just didn''t notice it."


    While she had been quite excited and proud, she now felt a significant dampening of her spirits following the scolding, along with a sinking feeling of inadequacy, as if she were not as good as she thought she was.


    There were actually some things she hadn''t divulged¡ªfor instance, on the day Aiwass was attacked, he had taken a banned book to that bar. It was a secret of Mr. Aiwass''s, and she was determined to keep it for him.


    ¡ªBecause they were aplices in reading the same banned book, grasshoppers on the same string!


    And yet, even without knowing this crucial piece of information, Counselor Sherlock was still able to deduce the truth from other details¡ªdetails that Hayna admittedly had overlooked.


    It was as magical as how Mr. Aiwass had deduced that the true criminal was hidden in the cer from the bartender''s actions!


    Hayna was extremely excited, but also a bit deted.


    Because she felt as if she had fallen back into the state she was in at the beginning of university¡ªas soon as she encountered a broader world, she realized she might not be so exceptional after all.


    If she had been told all these important details and evidence, Hayna felt that while she might be slower, she surely could have figured out the truth. But she simply did not see those details¡ªthat was the biggest gap between them.


    The gap might appear small, but in reality, it was as vast as a chasm.


    "It seems that you havee to appreciate Mr. Aiwass''s remarkable capabilities. That''s good."


    The young Mr. Sherlockmented sharply, "Sadly, it seems you are probably among the more capable at your job. You could be called the smartest among idiots. The rest with muscles in ce of brains are just fools.


    ```


    "They''re always incapable of getting anything right, just making a mess of things. Even if I tell them the truth, I always have to exin over and over to convince them.


    "And this Mr. Aiwass¡ªpardon my bluntness, his observational abilities are stronger than more than half of the Supervisory Bureau put together."


    "...You have such a high opinion of Mr. Aiwass?"


    Hayna was quite surprised.


    She had basically only heard Mr. Sherlock say that this person was ipetent, that person was stupid.


    "Of course," Mr. Sherlock said indifferently, "in my view, the fact that you could ''join forces'' to solve this case was entirely reliant on his observation and judgment.


    "If youcked him, you would have definitely failed to solve the case; whereas he absolutely did not need to take you along to resolve this incident. You were merely pushing the wheelchair, not even fulfilling the duty of a protector¡ªwhen he clearly told you to attack the opponent with all your might, why did you hold back? If you choose to trust in someone''smand, you must trustpletely. Half-trustbined with your own thoughts is even more frightening than no trust at all.


    "He possesses excellent observational skills, correct reasoning ability, decisive judgment, calm execution, a mindset more mature and steady than yours¡ªand precise shooting skills. Be it in talent, personality, or capability, he is quite outstanding, far surpassing over ny-nine percent of the people in this country at just eighteen years old. He is worthy of my addressing him as ''Mr.''


    "I find him very interesting. I heard he is a freshman? Then I must go back to my alma mater to see him¡ªI have a premonition that working with him or conversing would be quite enjoyable."


    Having said that, Mr. Sherlock precisely folded the newspaper in his hand and handed it back to Hayna.


    It was a perfect alignment of all four corners, without a single deviation. Through this, one could glimpse the perfectionism inherent in Mr. Sherlock.


    "Ah, he actually dropped out for two or three months and hasn''t started school yet..."


    Hayna somewhat awkwardly took the newspaper.


    The dark-haired young man did not seem surprised by this oue, simply nodding calmly: "That''s normal. Universities cannot educate true talent. They are merely a group of knowledge nannies, trying hard to break down knowledge into a mush that is easy to digest, stuffing it into the mouths of thezy and foolish, in an attempt to mold them into barely usable social instruments. It is not a ce dedicated to serving geniuses, solely teaching the intelligent.


    "I guess Mr. Aiwass''s knowledge and wisdom, most likelye from the professor''s personal tuition. Even within the entire Royal Law University, Professor Moriarty is among the smartest of the lot."


    "...I see."


    Hayna said sheepishly.


    She felt a bit disheartened... because she thought her record of getting into the Royal Law University and serving as the ss representative for girls from her sophomore year was quite impressive. But she also knew that Mr. Sherlock indeed had the right to speak in this manner¡ªbecause he too was a valedictorian graduate from the Royal Law University.


    When Hayna was a freshman, Mr. Sherlock was the senior in his fourth year. With no guile and no background, relying solely on her excellent academic performance and good rtions, she managed to run the student council work smoothly, entirely depending on the many rulesid down by Mr. Sherlock before her.


    The same title of valedictorian, the same position of student council president, and also the same full marks upon graduation. Yet the gap between them was still significant. After all, the transcendent subjects were meant for ordinary people starting from zero, and for transcendent individuals with a higher level, getting full marks wasn''t that difficult.


    "¡ªWait a minute, Mr. Sherlock," Hayna finally couldn''t help but speak up, "I have a question:


    "If you consider the Supervisory Bureau to be a bunch of fools, to the extent that you refused the internships from the Supervisory Bureau and even the Supervisory Court when you graduated... why are you now working at the Supervisory Bureau as a mere counselor?"


    No matter how well a "counselor" performs, they can''t climb up the ranks. All the achievements belong to Director Kent, and at most, he could only get a book or two as a personal gift from the director.


    If he had chosen to enter the Supervisory Bureau back then, by now he might have already been a deputy director. And sooner orter, he would be the director¡ªby that time, the entire bookshelf would be his.


    "...''Mere''?"


    Upon hearing this, Mr. Sherlock turned around in mild surprise.


    After sizing up Hayna for a few moments and understanding her words, he sighed.


    The young man shook his head and lowered his voice: "Remember not to say such things to others in the future.


    "Followers of the path of authority should not be so focused on ''advancement'' and ''prospects''. An inspector should not have such clear-cut ''ambition'', as it signifies that you possess suitability for the path of transcendence.


    "In Avalon, those who wish to get promoted are the very ones who will not be promoted¡ªdo you understand what I''m saying?"

 Chapter 36: 19: Hall of Silver and Tin

    Hayna was stunned for a moment before she realized with fear what she had just said.


    Fortunately, she had asked Mr. Sherlock this question, not Director Kent!


    "As for why I do not enter the Supervisory Bureau..."


    Mr. Sherlock said indifferently, "Because you and I are simr but not the same, I also cannot reach far¡ªthe world does not elevate the more talented or excellent. I understood this when I graduated."


    "...What do you mean?"


    "It means I am like you. Compared to the Path of Authority, I lean more towards other paths."


    The dark-haired young man fearlessly spoke with candor, "What I requested from Mr. Kent was the mysterious book of the Path of Wisdom. I handle difficult problems for him, and he gives me forbidden books in his personal capacity¡ªit''s a fair trade of mutual use. Now, my second Path is almost reaching the second Energy Level... Compared to the Path of Authority, it is the Path of Wisdom that I truly aspire to."


    "But..."


    Hayna wanted to say something more.


    But her intuition was suddenly triggered, so she immediately became alert and fell silent.


    After five or six seconds of silence face to face, a middle-aged man gasping for breath finally came running from around the corner.


    "Hayna¡ªfinally found you, I''ve been looking for you for ages! Ah, Mr. Sherlock is here too! Great, the Director is looking for both of you!"


    "Does Mr. Kent need something?"


    Mr. Sherlock retorted without courtesy, "I have other matters to attend to right now."


    "He didn''t say... but I think you should go check it out. It won''t take long, will it?"


    The middle-aged man said with a cheery smile, "You know, Mr. Sherlock¡ªif it were something boring, Director wouldn''t have asked you toe, right?"


    "Alright then."


    Mr. Sherlock nodded in agreement.


    He said, looking at Hayna beside him, "This is another reason.


    "I am restless. If I have nothing to do, I''ll be uneasy... but if asked to do ordinary, repetitive work, I''ll grow bored. I need tough challenges and formidable opponents to excite me.


    "Your kind of routine patrols are too dull. With that time, I would rather read more books, conduct experiments. Even traveling alone like a wandering monk would be more meaningful than that repetitive every day.


    "I do not seek fame, nor do I desire achievements. I just want work to utilize my intellect and vent my boundless energy¡ªand incidentally, to satisfy my curiosity. That''s why I coborate with you guys."


    "Alright, Mr. Sherlock."


    The middle-aged man said with a wry smile, "You should get going¡ªfinish listening to the Director''s tasks sooner, and you''ll get back to your own matters earlier, won''t you?"


    Mr. Sherlock, nomittal, walked towards Director Kent''s office.


    Meanwhile.


    In the center of ss Ind, the capital of Avalon,y a crystal-clearke, as blue as sapphire.


    The royal family of Avalon resided on an ind within an ind¡ªthe Lake Heart Ind in the middle of capital ss Ind. There stood the Hall of Silver and Tin, with ss stairs, blessed by the Silver-Crowned Dragon. It shimmered under the sunny skies with brilliant light, and even in overcast weather emitted a dreamlike gentle luminescence.


    Within the Hall of Silver and Tin, a girl who appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen with golden hair and blue eyes was quietly flipping through today''s "ss Staircase Daily."


    She seemed to have elven blood, making her appear younger than her actual age. Her demeanor gentle, her back straight, with the back of her neck revealed by her dress reflecting the sun''s radiance. She exuded a quiet temperament characteristic of an artistic youngdy, her eyes as calm as still waters.


    Opposite her, an elf who appeared to be in her twenties or thirties¡ªwith the allure of mature womanhood and the innocence of a young girl¡ªsmiled with hands cupping her cheeks. She possessed a distinct aura of an artist¡ªnot an illusion, but the influence of the Path of Beauty.


    "I didn''t deceive you, did I, my little princess?"


    The elven artist said with a smiling gaze, "I told you yesterday I saw a very handsome man. I specifically saved a whole twelve seconds just to capture that key moment when he looked back and smiled.


    "My aesthetic judgment is impable¡ªthe smile was the key, maximizing the preservation of his charm. Honestly, I even want to paint a portrait of him. Though I feel there''s no rush at this moment, I will certainly have a chance to meet himter."


    "...Indeed."


    The girl nodded quietly, "Mrs. Yanis is right. Mr. Aiwass''s smile does make one think of the sun.


    "Being of the same age and the same level of Path, he was able to personally lead the arrest of a Demon Schr much more powerful than himself... with wless investigation, judgment, and deduction throughout the process. Very impressive and very brave.


    She whispered softly, "I can''t do it. Because I am very timid."


    There was a yearning mixed with resignation on the girl''s face.


    ¡ª¡ªThat was the yearning stirred deep inside a genuinely kind person upon seeing someone of their kind who was much stronger than themselves; as well as the resignation of not being envious or deceptive but honestly recognizing the fact that they were far from being the other''s equal.


    "He is so amazing."


    The girl repeated.


    "Ah¡ª¡ª"


    Seeing her like this, Mrs. Yanis spoke lovingly¡ªand also somewhat manically, making a noise like teasing a puppy, and then hugged the girl, ruffling her hair vigorously: "Little Isabel, you are really too adorable!"


    "Please call me Isabel, Mrs. Yanis."


    Isabel whimpered, covering her hair with her hands and speaking earnestly, "And please don''t mess up my hair¡ª¡ª"


    "And besides, I don''t know in what way I''m cute. I was merely stating the truth."


    "Your cuteness lies in these unbearably serious exnations at moments when no exnation is needed at all."


    "That sounds too stupid. I am an idiot."


    Isabel was somewhat annoyed and also a bit disheartened, "I can''t even paint well."


    "You are already a genius, Isabel."


    Mrs. Yanis became serious when the topic was brought up: "It''s just that the people you have encountered are even more genius than you.


    "Isn''t your Path of Beauty also close to advancing? To be able to engage with the second energy level at this age is already quite impressive... And the way I have taught you is to build on a more solid foundation, so although you may start a bitter, you''ll be able to go much further."


    "I feel that is just because my father is Prince Albert."


    Isabel dropped her gaze and spoke softly, "I myself am nothing remarkable.


    "If Mr. Aiwass were a prince, he would be able to start even earlier and go even further."


    "Aiwass is an exception. You shouldn''t think too much about it. Even Her Majesty the Queen said after seeing the newspaper, he is an extraordinary young man... You don''t need topare yourself with such a person."


    "...Even Grandmother?!"


    Isabel was astonished: "Grandmother rarely praises people... Is that Demon Schr really that amazing?"


    "It''s not the battle, nor even the searching ability. What Her Majesty the Queen values is his decisiveness when he fired those two shots. Although the results were only the death of a second-level Demon Schr, it actually exhibited his outstanding judgment, that absolute confidence in his own judgement, and a steady execution.


    "Her Majesty the Queen said it herself, he has the makings of a great general. You should also think about it, surely it was because she nodded her head that I dared to put him on the front page, in such arge article. It''s because Her Majesty the Queen said, to let the young people of the kingdom learn a lesson¡ªthough I believe they certainly won''t be able to learn it, but it''s still nice to let everyone have a look at a handsome young man."


    Mrs. Yanis shook her head helplessly: "You must stop this habit of onlyparing yourself with the strongest, and then immediately feeling inferior and backing down when you fall short."


    "I feel that if I have topare myself with my peers, then I mustpare myself with the strongest among them."


    Princess Isabel said earnestly: "Because I have enjoyed the best resources, if I can''t be the best, then it''s a waste of those resources. They should be given to someone who needs them more."


    "...You,"


    Mrs. Yanis sighed, finding Princess Isabel''s stubbornness astonishing.


    "By the way, Mrs. Yanis."


    Isabel suddenly asked, "What did Mr. Aiwass see at that time? What was he gesturing at?"


    "Actually, I wasn''t at the scene either."


    Mrs. Yanis shook her head: "But I asked the recorder. He said it was a little girl selling flowers nearby.


    "That girl called him ''a very gentle big brother.'' I''d imagine he politiely bought a bouquet from her before. Aiwass indeed is a very polite young man¡ªyou could invite him to sit in the Hall of Silver and Tin sometime. Chat about what happened then, his thoughts, how he made his judgement... I think it would be very interesting. And I believe Her Majesty the Queen would allow it."


    "¡ª¡ªYou''re looking forward to it too, aren''t you, Isabel?"


    Isabel didn''t reply, but simply clenched her small fists a little tighter, like a child with yearning in her eyes, which widened beautifully, emerald-green as her grandmother''s.

 Chapter 37: 20 Bishop Mathers

    The Cathedral of the Candle Master in the Red Queen District is Avalon''s most orthodox Nine Pirs Divine Church, as well as the highest-status cathedral.


    The coronation ceremonies of sessive Avalonian kings and queens have all been held here, and it is also where the royal mausoleum is located. Other "great" individuals in the Kingdom of Avalon are also buried here following their state funerals.


    Its daring to take the name "Candle Master," the Guardian Pir God of the Path of Devotion, is sufficient to prove its sanctity.


    "Pleasee this way."


    An elderly man turned his head, wearing a solemn, floor-length red robe and a mitre. He spoke politely and gently to Aiwass.


    This man, with his sideburns and sses, appeared to be in his forties based on his skin and features, exuding an aura akin to that of a stern head teacher. Yet, there was an inexplicable sense of "agedness" about him, causing one to instinctively view him as an elder. Perhaps it was due to the unnatural paleness of his hair, not as one naturally grays, but as if faded by age.


    The old man looked up and warned Butler Oswald, who was pushing a wheelchair behind Aiwass, "Be careful, there''s a slope ahead."


    The design of his mitre resembled a ceremonial and sacred candbra with intricate detail.


    In fact, it could indeed hold candles ¡ª although they wouldn''t actually insert and light candles except on important asions.


    ording to the design of this mitre, it could amodate up to three candles. Therge candle in the front and the two smaller ones on each side indicated that this elder''s clerical rank was quite high.


    Counting from the top down, even including the Pope of the Eternal Theocracy, he would be considered the third tier.


    Strictly speaking, all high-ranking clergy, including the Pope, were "bishops," and all bishops had three candles on their mitres and were the only ones entitled to wear red robes. The Pope''s mitre could fit threerge candles, whereas a bishop of the lowest rank could only have three small candles.


    One tier down, a priest would have two candles, and an acolyte at the lowest rank would have just one.


    Although the churches in this world all worship the Nine Pir Gods, the church itself has its preferences. Most clergy follow the Path of Devotion, hence the Nine Pirs Divine Church reveres the "Candle Master" and the "Red Candle" that signifies ''burning oneself to illuminate others'' as its sacred emblem.


    While Aiwass was also a priest, he had not yet graduated, and therefore had not been conferred his own mitre. This meant he was not considered part of the religious system, was not on the church''s payroll, and was not bound by its rules.


    "Thank you, Bishop Mathers."


    Aiwass expressed his polite gratitude, "And thank you for personally teaching me the Sacred Arts."


    "It''s no trouble at all. My election as Clergy Councilor wasrgely thanks to Professor Moriarty."


    Bishop Mathers sped his hands in front of him, linking his fingers. He walked alongside Aiwass on the east side path of the Cathedral of the Candle Master.


    He chuckled good-humoredly, "I read this morning''s paper ¡ª you did well yesterday.


    "Those Demon Schrs have done myriad evils, recently sacrificing an entire vige. Including a dozen elders and over forty children, all were used as material for their rituals. Their crimes are outrageous, so much so that His Holiness the Pope was rmed. Now they are wanted not just in the kingdom, but also by the punitive hall in the Holy Nation."


    "Without an official mastery of the Path''s power, you found them using your own wisdom and defeated them with only a handgun... Your victory against the stronger adversary was remarkable. The Pope has not seen the newspaper yet. But I believe if he does, he would praise you as a ''youthful hero''."


    "It wasn''t all that impressive," Aiwass smiled modestly, "Without Senior Hayna''s protection, I might have found them but likely would have already fallen victim."


    "Hmm, that girl did quite well too," Bishop Mathers concurred. "Brave and strategic ¡ª and most importantly, willing to trust others.


    "She is much stronger than you and even older, yet she did not blindly rely on her strength and was willing to trust your judgment... When she couldn''t handle the problem before her, she passed the ball to someone who could. I suppose that in itself is a form of wisdom."


    "You follow sports too?"


    The one who suddenly spoke up was Butler Oswald from behind Aiwass.


    The old elf asked with keen interest, "Which team do you support?"


    "Of course, the Mistletoe Club."


    The bishop answered without hesitation, "The neer they brought in this year, I think there''s something to say about him."


    "What about the unicorn? How do you see the unicorn''s performance this year?"


    "I am Avalonian, so of course, I support Avalon''s sports teams. You are an elf, so you support the Holy Nation''s teams. This is normal."


    The bishop chuckled as he spoke, lightly glossing over the topic.


    He looked at Aiwass and said seriously, "Although you have proven yourself capable of oveing stronger opponents with less¡ªdefeating an enemy who is close to reaching the third energy level without having gained any supernatural powers¡ªit would be remiss of us elders to simply set you aside with confidence.


    "Although it may not be by the book... ording to the regtions issued by Her Majesty forty years ago, Avalonian citizens must achieve an excellent result in their cultural exams aftering of age and have a good moral assessment with no bad habits or criminal records before they can formally begin on the Path and step onto the transcendent road.


    "But there is only one month left until your final exams this term. You have already proven your integrity and rationality, I will speak with Her Majesty about thister."


    At this point, Butler Oswald, who was pushing the wheelchair, suddenly gave a light cough.


    "Archbishop Your Excellency," the aged yet still elegant elf butler asked earnestly, "Is there something wrong?"


    Bishop Mathers kept chuckling, hands sped, but did not immediately respond to Oswald''s words.


    It was not until the trio had arrived at the small chapel on the east side of the cathedral, and Bishop Mathers produced a key that looked even bigger than Hayna''s short sword to unlock the tightly closed door, that the old bishop leisurely began to speak:


    "¡ªToday, St. Genvieve Chapel opens just for you.


    "Aside from teaching you the Sacred Arts of ''Rite of Fire,'' ''Illumination,'' and ''Blessing,'' I will also assist you with your first advancement. Don''t be too nervous, the first advancement does not require entry into the Dream Realm. The situation in Avalon is not good right now, and I think you need some ability to protect yourself."


    "So, what exactly has happened?"


    Oswald persisted in asking.


    Bishop Mathers closed the doors of the chapel and turned on the light switch.


    The next moment, the chapel, which seemed like a university lecture hall in its construction and size, suddenly became brightly lit.


    On both sides, the statues stored within the niches became illuminated, as if awakened by that light, silently beginning to move ever so slightly and gradually turning their gaze towards them.


    Bishop Mathers gently tapped the three candles on his mitre and respectfully greeted the sacred images:"The seventy-three trailzers.


    "May the Candle Master watch over your mes."


    Aiwass and Oswald also slightly lowered their heads in respect.


    These seventy-three sacred images represented every figure in Avalon, including past monarchs, who had been buried here with national funeral honors since the founding of the kingdom. Each one''s name was etched in Avalon''s history books.


    When Queen Sofia passes away, she would be the seventy-fourth.


    Aiwass had already noticed that a new niche without a sacred image had appeared in the corner of St. Genvieve Chapel.


    Noticing Aiwass''s gaze, Bishop Mathers kindly exined to him, "This is the spot prepared by Her Majesty for herself. Her sacred image wasmissioned five years ago andpleted two years ago. It is now kept in the Hall of Silver and Tin."


    Then, he turned back to Oswald.


    "The Round Table Hall probably doesn''t know about this yet, but I have reported it to Her Majesty," he said.


    Bishop Mathers spoke gravely, "There has been important intelligence from the Holy Nation.


    "They captured a spy from Star Antimony and got something out of him.


    "¡ªIt is said that there are traitors within the high levels of the kingdom. They n to incite an ongoing chaos on ss Ind, with the timing, scale, and location all unknown. The ultimate goal is to ''obtain or get close to some kind of Holy Entity''.


    "The Royal Capital is likely to fall into chaos soon, and I think there is no need to wait for Aiwass to finish his final exams.


    "Just in case, he must immediately embark on the transcendent path."

 Chapter 38: 21 Sacred Arts: Rite of Fire

    At least in this matter, Aiwass could be sure that Bishop Mathers knew less than he did.


    Although Aiwass hadpletely forgotten the plot, the letter he obtained at the Pelican Bar, which was sent to the Noble Red Society by "someone," mentioned some key intelligence.


    The letter vaguely mentioned that the Demon Schrs sent by the Noble Red Society this time should be "a group of people," not just two. "That person" would coordinate with their actions, continuously creating incidents around ss Ind in advance to divert the attention and manpower of the Supervisory Bureau.


    Simrly, the mysterious person who wrote the letter also issued a warning to the Noble Red Society with an attitude nearly equal to that of a partner¡ªthe gist was that the credit he was willing to extend to the Society was limited. If the Society failed to provide him with what he wanted this time, then he would be "heartbroken yet resolute in executing some unkind deeds that neither of us would like to see or wish to witness."


    The two "pen pals" who came to meet Aiwass in person had actually split from the main group and arrived in advance.


    Their motives were easy to understand.


    They had been running the "Aiwass" line for a very long time. Perhaps they thought Aiwass would die in the ongoing turmoil; or maybe they feared that their superiors would take Aiwass, this resource, from them; or they felt uneasy about this operation, thus activating Aiwass as a reserve to supplement important resources in advance.


    Initially, they may have been attracted by the "Moriarty" family name, but when Aiwass became a Priest and continued to trust them, he himself became of special value.


    Noble blood, a pure heart, a soul striving for Transcendence, a voluntary sacrificial offering¡ªperhaps there were other factors as well. But Aiwass, as a sacrificial offering, was of very high caliber.


    Because the ritual sacrifice was not a summoning specifically for the Shadow Demon, but any superior Demon could answer the call. And indeed, as soon as the ritual began, the Shadow Demon was attracted by the scent and came forth.


    Aiwass offered half of his life force as a sacrifice to sign a contract with the Shadow Demon¡ªthis was actually the correct price.


    The correct price for a sacrifice is "half." No matter how much you offer, the Demon only takes half, and it is usually the regenerative half, because the essence of this ritual is "division."


    Equal division of wealth, power, profit, risk¡ªsuch parties can then be termed coborators. If the summoner''s quality satisfies the Demon, the summoner may symbolically take an extra 1% to signify the distinction between "master and servant"; if the summoning is barely sessful, then it''s typically an even split.


    But in reality, this has no binding effect on the Demon''s actions. It is merely a verbal distinction of being called "the master" or "the partner."


    Demon Schrs are a legal profession in countries other than Avalon and the Eternal Theocracy. If the art of sacrifice necessarily required killing one''s offering, then Demon Schrs would inevitably be murderers, and the profession would not be legal. Moreover, if Demon Schrs performed self-sacrifice, it would amount to suicide.


    The sacrifices made by Demon Schrs in the Kingdom of Avalon apanied by ughters are actually not demands of the Demons, but rather for silencing, robbery, or preparing ritual materials.


    Given the limited cirction of mystical knowledge, most ordinary people don''t even know what the Extraordinary Professions of the Path of Transcendence are, let alone the formal title of "Demon Schr." They use "Magician," a term that means "some lord who can cast spells," as a folk substitute.


    But actually, Demon Schrs'' spellcasting abilities are not strong, and the types of spells they can use are quite limited.


    Compared to Mages of the Path of Wisdom, Necromancers of the Path of Dusk, and Sages of the Path of Adaptation, they are much less capable, and even less so than the Legal Mages of the Path of Authority¡ªDemon Schrs'' main strengthes from "rituals" and "Demons." Many spells rely on rituals, requiring advance preparation, and the power far exceeds that of normal spells.


    For example, Veronica''s "Cursed Infant" requires an infant cursed to death by the caster as ritual material. A second-level Demon Schr-led ritual spell can threaten or even instantly kill frontline professionals of the third energy level.


    If theyck appropriate materials or do not have a contract with a sufficiently powerful Demon, Demon Schrs be very weak.


    However, if Demon Schrs n covertly and prepare in advance, they canpletely unleash destructive power far beyond their own level.


    Now, I am in the Light while they are in the Darkness.


    If Aiwass relies solely on his capabilities as a Demon Schr to confront them, then that''s doubly disadvantageous¡ªnot only could it easily reveal his identity, but it would also be impossible to coordinate with his teammates.


    He wouldn''t even be able to blend in. Not even rest easy.


    Originally, Aiwass had nned to quickly obtain the Priest profession level; he just didn''t expect it to be so soon. He hadn''t even told his foster father about this when Bishop Mathers had already thought of it in advance.


    In the morning, the Supervisory Bureau called to make an appointment¡ªsaying they intended to visit Moriarty Manor in the evening. His foster father, however, was very happy about it, saying there was some kind ofmendation for Aiwass... but Aiwass wasn''t very interested in that.


    What good thing could the Supervisory Bureau give? In the game, yers were busy with errands but ultimately received nothing. All the benefits were taken by the Bureau itself.


    Moreover, Aiwass worried that it would be Hayna, that fool again,ing hours in advance. So, he dared not go out all day today.


    He originally nned to stay home and read books with his sister.


    But then, at nine in the morning, he was invited to the Cathedral of Candle Master by Bishop Mathers.


    However, Aiwass now felt not the slightest dissatisfaction, but was exceptionally devout and extremely earnest.


    ¡ªJust kidding, this is a professional skill mentor!


    And strictly speaking, he got in through the back door. Without passing an exam orpleting that long and tedious list of "recognition tasks," he was directly granted the qualification to learn Sacred Arts!


    The old bishop spoke leisurely, "The so-called ''Sacred Arts'' are the most practical and safest mystical skills of the Path of Devotion, meticulously selected by the church based on the principles of ''safety,'' ''health,'' ''ease of learning,'' and ''benefiting others.'' After passing the corresponding qualification exam, you will be taught the respective skills by the bishop for free, until you learn them."


    I understand, it''s the Big Three: Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur... Pick one that''s both easy to use and maintain.


    Aiwass muttered to himself, feeling very anxious and impatient.


    Meanwhile, Bishop Mathers continued unruffled, "Below the rank of Bishop, there are four Sacred Arts that can be mastered.


    ''Prayer,'' ''Rite of Fire,'' ''Illumination,'' ''Blessing.'' It is especially important to note that the essence of Mystical Skills cannot be understood simply by their literal meaning."


    The elder bishop exined, "The so-called ''Rite of Fire'' refers to a technique for strengthening the body and restoring oneself.


    "Life is like a candle, and the soul is the me. We who follow the Path of Devotion share our light and fire with others. But this also means that we will gradually be depleted ourselves.


    "I''ve deliberately induced this unhealthy state in myself to demonstrate it to you."


    While speaking, the old bishop pointed to the unnatural white at his temples.


    Aiwass knew what he was about to say but still nodded obediently.


    In short, the spells of the Path of Devotion require one to burn one''s own blood.


    Even healing involves using one''s own blood to replenish others¡ªsince that''s the case, the Path of Devotion must have a stable method for blood recovery.


    This is the Rite of Fire.


    "First, light a new candle. Any color will do, there''s no difference¡ªwhen you''ve be proficient enough, carrying a pack of matches will suffice."


    The old bishop said, extending his left hand, "I don''t know how well you understand mystical knowledge, so I''ll start from the beginning.


    "Among your ten fingers, the thumb represents fire, the index finger represents air, the middle finger represents ether, the ring finger is earth, and the pinky is water. Each of the four basic elements has two corresponding fingers, while light and darkness are represented by the left and right hands, respectively. Therefore, we usually use the left hand to perform the Rite of Fire¡ªsince the elements of the Path of Devotion are light and fire, our most important fingers are the left thumb and middle finger.


    "I don''t rmend you use your right hand for any operations until you can use it skillfully and have it ingrained in your instinct."


    Saying this, a white me ignited on the old bishop''s left thumb, lighting the candlestick in front of him.


    There was a thick, long, white candle ced in advance. Once ignited, its light instantly illuminated the entire space.


    "To facilitate guiding you in your first visualization, I specifically chose the brightest type avable."


    Bishop Mathers exined, gesturing Oswald to push Aiwass''s wheelchair closer.


    "Come, raise your left hand. Do as I do..."


    His movements were slow, "Imagine that what''s in front of you is not a candle me within reach but the unattainable golden sun.


    "No matter how bright the me before you is, you must envision it shining with an extremely brilliant light¡ªlet that light fill every corner of your field of vision, filling your entire sight without a trace of shadow. Imagine that it can prate your palm, and even with your hands wide open, your hand should be as transparent as ss."


    Aiwass did as instructed.


    But just as he extended his hand,


    A pop-up suddenly appeared before him:


    [Samuel Mathers is teaching you the ''Rite of Fire.'' Would you like to pay 1 public experience to master this Mystical Skill?]


    The moment Aiwass saw the pop-up, he froze for an instant, instinctively looking towards Bishop Mathers.


    In the game, if a yer''s Mystical Skill was acquired through a quest¡ªthat is, not through reading but after maxing out the personal affection of a certain NPC and being taught one-on-one¡ªthe experience consumed to learn the skill is directly proportional to the skill level and inversely proportional to the level of the instructor.


    In other words, the easier the Mystical Skill is to learn and the higher the level of the instructor, the less experience the learner has to expend.


    In the game, this setting didn''t mean much; it simply served to show how powerful a person was indirectly because yers didn''tck that bit of experience¡ªthere were no stamina limits in this broken game, and the experience needed to learn Mystical Skills wasn''t much.


    However, when discussing "who is stronger than whom" or "who can one-shot whom" on the Wargame forums online, people would bring out this factor as a basis to deduce the actual professional level corresponding to that NPC.


    When yers in those days learned Sacred Arts, they uniformly needed to spend seven points of experience to master them¡ªand that NPC, whose name Aiwass couldn''t remember, was at least some sort of bishop.


    So, what''s going on with you, old man? You have such a high level even in version 1.0, so why have I never heard your name in the game?


    ¡ªOh no, it looks like I''ve encountered a Sweeping Monk.

 Chapter 39: 22 Contact with the Blood of Candle Master

    Currently, it is still version 1.0, and "Phantom Demon¡¤Candle Celestial Marshal" has yet to descend and be defeated. The level cap for the Path of Devotion is only 50. The highest-level individual is the Eternal Pope of the Eternal Theocracy.


    Aiwass conservatively estimated that Bishop Mathers must be at least level 39.


    In Avalon, that would be top-tier level within the Arbitration Hall. One more level up and he would be akin to the current version''s top-level powerhouses¡ªif one were to make a bolder estimate, it''s likely that Bishop Mathers has already reached beyond level 40 and touched the strength of the fifth energy level.


    Even the Cardinal Archbishops of the Eternal Theocracy could only aspire to so much.


    But thinking about what his foster father said to him before he left, Aiwass was able to let it go.


    Bishop Mathers is the highest-ranking bishop at the Cathedral of Candle Master. In other words, he is the highest authority of the Nine Pirs Divine Church within Avalon.


    Such a powerhouse, if he did not directly suffer and perish in the impending chaos of Avalon...


    Then the likelihood is that heter changed his name and identity.


    Because Aiwass really has no recollection of such a person as Mathers.


    The Eternal Theocracy is an Elf-governed nation, and hence the pace of life is very slow. Not all humans can adapt to life there.


    Two-thirds of the higher echelons of the Nine Pirs Divine Church are women, and over ny percent are Elves. The Pope who rules the Holy Nation rotates every three hundred years. A retiring Pope automatically bes a Saint and continues to traverse the earthly nations as an agent of the Holy Nation, dispensing blessings and mediating disputes until they are too old and frail to walk before returning to the Holy Nation. Thus, only an Elf can aspire to be Pope.


    Mathers, not only being male but also human, belongs to a rare minority among the Holy Nation''s high-ranking officials. Aiwass was certain that there should be no one by that name among the church''s hierarchy.


    Because there was another rather peculiar aspect of the Nine Pirs Divine Church.


    It was about face.


    One doesn''t necessarily need to possess startling beauty, but at the very least, one must not be ugly.


    Because the healing from the Path of Devotion requires physical contact with others, if the recipient resists the treatment, the efficiency of the healing would drop significantly. Moreover, the "Rite of Fire" has an obvious beautifying and age-defying effect on the body, so it''s certain that the high-ranking officials of the church won''t be ugly.


    But Bishop Mathers...


    Was it because he was too old?


    The expression on Aiwass''s face turned somewhat subtle.


    "Don''t look at me, Aiwass. Look at the candle."


    Noticing that Aiwass had suddenly turned to look at him, Bishop Mathers, whose appearance was akin to that of a stern and strict headteacher, naturally issued a voice full of a stereotypical sternness: "There''s no light and fire on my face, looking at me is useless."


    "Yes."


    Aiwass came to his senses and obediently responded.


    ¡ª¡ªPay with experience.


    He affirmed in his mind.


    Seeing Aiwassing back to reality, Bishop Mathers rxed his tone and continued to instruct:


    "You must imagine that the pain, curses, and deficiencies within your body are not ''things that your body naturally lost'' but rather ''something negative that has been added to a bnced and healthy state of your body''. Consider it a flowing, pitch-ck liquid and use your willpower to move it to the position of your left hand''s middle finger.


    "It is like fuel, simr to smoke. When ites into contact with a me, it will hiss and disappear..."


    As he spoke, Bishop Mathers used his left hand''s middle finger to touch the me.


    Suddenly, the ordinary me brightened up.


    A faint me extended from his fingertip over his entire body, enveloping him with ayer of me-like membrane, casting a luminous glow.


    The old bishop''s pain and aging seemed to vanish as if time had reversed¡ª


    The wrinkles on his face smoothed out, the unnaturally pale hair regained its deep brown sheen and sticity, returning to its naturally curly state. His murky, coagted-blood-like deep eyes brightened as well, resembling a slightly darker shade of amber.


    His spine straightened, skin turned fair, clean, and stic.


    His entire being visibly rejuvenated at an observable pace, stopping at around the appearance of a thirty-year-old¡ª


    It was not a mere eradication of diseases, nor a dissolution of pain. Instead, he fully restored his body to an "ideal state". Much likepletely refurbished electronics¡ªaside from the inevitable depletion of battery life, there would be no trace of usage.


    And such a Mathers could hardly be referred to as an "old bishop" anymore.


    He pushed up his hexagonal ck-framed sses and revealed a self-satisfied smile. Even his voice had turned younger:


    "...Just like this, Aiwass. This is Lord Candle Master''s gratitude and blessing to us who are willing to walk the Path of Devotion.


    "Minus the natural wear and tear of life, one shall be free from illnesses for life. The body forever stays at its peak condition; hence, the lifespan is much longer than that of ordinary people ¡ª because when they die of old age, it''s not due to theplete natural exhaustion of lifespan, but because of premature aging due to fatigue and wear, and irreversible illnesses thate when the body weakens.


    "But we won''t encounter this situation. Once the Fire Rite Skill is mastered, one can achieve healthy longevity ¡ª Lord Candle Master has said, ''Those who live for others need not suffer.'' And health is the most important thing, something sought after by those walking other paths but not obtainable. We cannot share this blessing with them.


    "I am already forty-six years old, yet after using ''Rite of the Sacred Fire'' to nurture my body, I can even appear younger than thirty. My bones, muscles, nerves, and organs can all be restored to that extent.


    "If a person exercises sufficiently and takes good care of his body and spirit, then when he reaches my age, it is theoretically possible for him to be as young. This is the ''positive'' change that ''Rite of the Sacred Fire'' can bring about ¡ª of course, a regr priest still cannot reach this step. They can only turn the negative into zero, but not zero into positive."


    Seeing Samuel Mathers'' adept use of the Fire Rite Skill which had an effect akin to turning back the years,


    Even Oswald disyed a look of astonishment and admiration.


    Bishop Mathers, having regained his youth, showed a self-satisfied smile upon seeing this.


    Bishop Mathers had a good impression of Aiwass and held high hopes for his future.


    Therefore, he very much hoped that Aiwass would steadfastly walk on the Path of Devotion.


    Previously, he had deliberately consumed his own lifespan, making himself look unusually aged ¡ª and that was to perform just such a demonstration at this moment. Only when his appearance was aged and weakened could such a "return to youth" leave an unforgettable and profound impression.


    "Of course," not wanting to dent Aiwass''s confidence, Bishop Mathers quickly added, "you don''t need to rush. A priest who has just encountered ''Rite of the Sacred Fire'' would do well just to fill the gaps in their health. You have just been sacrificed by a demon, so your vitality will definitely be depleted; that''s why I prioritized teaching you ''Rite of the Sacred Fire.'' This way, you can gradually replenish the vitality, blood, and lifespan lost to the sacrifice.


    "The mastery of Sacred Arts is simple but not immediate. Generally speaking, mastering ''Rite of the Sacred Fire'' within five days is normal, but I feel you should be able to get a preliminary grasp in two days. Illumination Art is much simpler, you can master it immediately, so we''ll talk about itst. Blessing, however, is the hardest and generally takes about a week to learn.


    "So, this time I''m only teaching you how to practice, and when you go home..."


    Bishop Mathers was in the middle of speaking when his words suddenly stuck.


    Because he saw Aiwass''s pupils bing suddenly empty.


    Deep blue like the sea, his pupils abruptly showed hints of a sunset-like deep red. Like the sea at dusk, the deeper it was towards the top, the deeper blue it seemed, while closer to the bottom, it resembled the half-submerged sunset on the sea horizon, shining with a nearly golden red halo.


    Aiwass opened his left hand towards the candle me and touched it with his middle finger.


    The me ignited instantly and flowed into his bloodstream through his fingertip.


    Aiwass suddenly felt a rxing warmth.


    It was like after exhaustion, soaking in a fragrance and petal-infused warm spring while listening to gentle music. He felt the heat soothing his entire body, a strong sense of drowsiness and satisfaction overwhelming him.


    In the pure white world of illumination he envisioned, leisurely walked a deer.


    The deer was transparent, with a purity and brilliance of red simr to the finest rubies. At the moment of Its arrival, Aiwass''s gaze was irresistibly drawn to it.


    ¡ªThat was none other than Candle Master! The supreme being of the Path of Devotion, the God of Devotion!


    Unlike the immense pressure from the Silver-Crowned Dragon of the Path of Authority that Aiwass felt, gazing upon Candle Master did not cause Aiwass to experience illusions or pressure. For It had bound Its own divinity, allowing Itself to interact with mortals¡ª


    Its body was bound with ck thorns. Those thorns pierced Its skin and caused It to bleed red. As It walked, Its blood continually dripped to the ground, causing groups of eternal, undying red mes in the form of footprints to rise.


    And Its massive crystalline red antlers were like a candbra thrusting in all directions, with dozens of clusters of pure white mes burning on them.


    The deer slowly approached the motionless Aiwass, who was like a statue, and gently licked his outstretched left hand.


    Afterward, It raised Its head and softly pressed a wound beneath Its neck, pierced by the ck thorns, against Aiwass''s palm.


    A drop of blood fell into Aiwass''s hand, transforming into a tear-like ruby.


    In Aiwass''s heart, three lines of text appeared.


    These were the three choices that one received upon advancing in their path¡ª


    [Affinity with mes LV1 (Blue): You crush the Blood of Candle Master and grasp a hint of the essence of mes.]


    [Evesting Health (White): You are cleansed by the Blood of Candle Master and can better resist diseases.]


    [me Container LV1 (Blue): You ingest the Blood of Candle Master, and your soul is expanded.]

 Chapter 40: 23: Holy Sword Guardian Samuel

    Each time a Transcendent Profession advanced, three random stat lines would be given.


    It was only when all these stat lines came together that each Transcendent Profession formed unique and subtly different from one another.


    In the game, yers could repeatedly run advancement dungeons to reroll these stat lines. Otherwise, it would be difficult for yers to experience various fancy builds.


    But Aiwass clearly didn''t have any in-game shop items.


    His choice in stat lines during advancement was a one-time opportunity.


    However, he had already decided on the direction he wanted to take¡ª


    To advance to Master of Beasts, he needed to seal his own six-attribute Great Beasts.


    And to craft an Affinity Card for each attribute, fifty points of pure-colored mana were required.


    When leveling up, the Priest profession would increase the mana pools of both Light and Fire attributes. The ratio was mostly three Light to one Fire.


    The Demon Schr typically could only increase the Mana Pool of the Darkness attribute when leveling up. If contracted with an Upper-Level Demon such as the Shadow Demon, one could also increase the Mana Pool of the contracted demon''s corresponding attribute. Even though Aiwass''s first contracted demon was a Darkness-attribute Shadow Demon, he could still possibly end up with a random stat line for expanding the Wind, Earth, Water, or Fire Mana Pools during his advancement.


    If Aiwass leveled up normally, he feared only the Light and Dark attributes could reach fifty points.


    Therefore, except for Light and Dark, he must choose any stat lines that expanded other attributes if avable¡ªeven so, it was not guaranteed that he could raise all six attributes to at least fifty points. By then, he either had to endure the experience penalty to open a third Path and take up a specific spellcasting profession to increase the corresponding Mana Pool, or slowly elevate the attribute limits through various kinds of magic potions, or wear Extraordinary Items to temporarily increase the mana limit.


    The basic principle was that any stat line offering expansion of the Wind, Earth, Water, or Fire attributes must be selected.


    Unless a rare gold stat line appeared, Aiwass would hesitate, seriously contemting whether to pass on the expansion this time.


    But in the first advancement, only blue stat lines could appear. Additionally, spellcasting professions were bound to present both Affinity and Expansion stat lines¡ªhence he had no room for hesitation, as he had no other choice.


    However, Aiwass was quite fortunate.


    Having Blood of Candle Master did not guarantee the appearance of a Fire attribute stat line; it could also be Light. If the random expansion was for the Light attribute, then he could only choose Affinity. This was because his Light Mana Pool was quite ample¡ªhe was not a Transcendent specializing in the Path of Devotion, no need to raise the blue lines too high.


    Moreover, the Phantom Demon Yulia possessed was of the Fire attribute.


    This meant that Aiwass had to craft a Fire Affinity nk Card before that incident began if he wanted a chance to seal it.


    He had previously calcted that the standard Mana Pool for a level 10 Priest should be 8 points of Light and 2 points of Fire, while at level 20, it should be 23 Light and 7 Fire.


    When Aiwass reached level 20, counting the current time, he needed to advance three times in total. These were the guaranteed sessful one at level 2 and two Ritual Trials at levels 9 and 19.


    As long as he randomly received a Fire attribute expansion in these two trials, Aiwass''s Fire Mana Pool could increase by another 28 points. Without using any Extraordinary Items, adding the original 7 points and the 14 points given this time would be exactly 49 points.


    ¡ªA maximum Mana Pool of 49 points, if he stored four points in advance the day before, would already be enough to create a Fire Affinity nk Card with a capacity of 50!


    And once he possessed the "Phantom Demon: Defiant me Butterfly," Aiwass would gainbat strength far greater than that of a mere level 1 Fire Affinity!


    At the very least, he would have no trouble fighting his way through to the end of version 1.0!


    So Aiwass didn''t hesitate.


    After the stat line appeared, he thought it over, and the teardrop-shaped me instinctively rose up and entered his mouth.


    The very next moment, the illusions before his eyes abruptly shattered.


    Aiwass suddenly felt a slight burning sensation on his fingertips. The sensation quickly became pronounced, like touching a candle me with wet fingers.


    He abruptly awoke.


    As Aiwass''s attribute list changed, the modified parts popped up before his eyes:


    Priest LV2: [Basic Prayer-1st level (99%)], [Rite of Fire-1st level (5%)]


    Paths unlocked: Dedication-First Layer; Transcendence-First Layer


    Mana Pool: 2/2 (Light), 4/4 (Dark), 14/14 (Fire)


    Free Experience: 53


    Path Traits¡ª


    Dedication-me Container Lv1: You have consumed Blood of Candle Master, and your soul has been expanded. Your Mana Pool (Fire) has increased by a maximum of 14.


    Aiwass looked up, his eyes still dazed, looking at Bishop Mathers who was astonished. He showed an expression as if he had just woken up, bewildered and innocent, and said subconsciously:


    "I just... I think I saw a red deer.


    "Its body was wrapped in ck thorns, and it was bleeding. There were white mes on its antlers...""


    "¡ªThat was Lord Candle Master!"


    Bishop Mathers hurriedly interrupted.


    He reached up to touch his forehead as if there were imaginary antlers there, "Lord Candle Master above... Such affection for you? To master the Rite of Fire on your very first attempt..."


    Bishop Mathers murmured softly, obviously finding it somewhat hard to imagine.


    But the leap in Aiwass''s rank was self-evident. As a superior of the same Path, he could clearly feel that Aiwass''s Path of Devotion had already sessfully reached the firstyer.


    "... What are the characteristics of the Path you chose?"


    Before Bishop Mathers could continue teaching Aiwass, he spoke with some urgency, "I didn''t expect you to learn it immediately, so I haven''t had the chance to tell you... If you want to obtain the ability to protect yourself right away, you must choose ''me Affinity'' or ''Light Affinity''. Which did you choose?"


    "It''s ''me Container''."


    Aiwass replied immediately.


    A faintly nervous expression appeared on his face, "Does that mean I chose incorrectly?"


    Aiwass breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.


    He thought it was a good thing he had advanced before Bishop Mathers could react.


    If he had chosen the me Container after hearing Bishop Mathers''s words, the bishop would certainly have been upset. But Aiwass did need to quickly level up his fire attribute Mana Pool, and the next round might not offer the term he wanted. So when a term that expanded the fire attribute appeared, he had to choose it immediately.


    "... No, no, there''s not much of a problem."


    Seeing the nervous look on Aiwass''s face, Bishop Mathers hurriedlyforted him, "The ''me Container'' is also a very good characteristic¡ªit can enable you to wield extremely powerful fire forces, it''s just a bit cumbersome to use. Without an Affinity ss ability, the operation could be a little stiff... but I''m not saying it''s a bad choice, I mean, it''s not very flexible¡ªbut in the long run, it''s a good choice!"


    Obviously, this scene was not something Bishop Mathers had anticipated.


    But seeing the tension and worry on Aiwass''s face not dissipating, Bishop Mathers bit his lip, "This way, Aiwass! Listen to me¡ª"


    "You have now gained a powerful mana equal to a second-level caster, you just don''t know how to use it yet. You can start learning spells or divine arts that rely on the power of fire, but before that..."


    Speaking, Bishop Mathers took the huge key he had used to open the door from his waist and gave it to Aiwass.


    It was a deep red key.


    It was so heavy that it felt not like a key, but like a broken sword.


    "During this time, St. Genevieve Chapel will be closed. I''m lending you the key; use it to defend yourself for the next two months¡ªdon''t underestimate it, just channel fire mana into it, and it will ignite a searing, phantom de. Even if you are not able to move, it''s enough to scare off most enemies.


    "Just make sure to return it to me before the Candle Master''s festival on the first of January."


    The moment Aiwass grasped the heavy key with uncertainty, he almost blurted out a curse.


    Because this key, despite its very ordinary name, had an incredibly heaven-defying effect.


    This was not only proof of his importance to Bishop Mathers but also revealed his pessimistic verdict on the current situation...


    The instant Aiwass saw this effect, he knew who Bishop Mathers really was¡ª


    [The Key to the St. Genevieve Chapel]


    [Extraordinary Weapon (Deep Purple)]


    [Dagger, Heavy, Unedged, Resilient]


    [Characteristic: It can be used to break the seal of St. Genevieve Chapel (limited to triggering by the Path of Devotion)]


    [Extraordinary Module - me Infusion: Spend 1-10 points of fire attribute mana to ignite a de of fire,sting 1-10 minutes]


    [Extraordinary Module - Light Infusion: Spend 1-10 points of light attribute mana to ignite a de of sanctity,sting 1-10 minutes]


    [Extraordinary Module - Wind Infusion: Spend 1-10 points of wind attribute mana to ignite an invisible de,sting 1-10 minutes]


    [Spell: Holy Sword Skill (Once a month)]


    [Requirement: Light 11+Fire 11+Wind 11, or Light 33, or Fire 33, or Wind 33]


    [Instant, Touch, Immediate Effect]


    [Effect: Sanctify this Weapon, transforming it into the Holy Sword¡¤Red-Handled Sword (Sacred Weapon - Two-Handed Sword, Heavy, Exorcising, Sharp, Resilient, Lightweight, the bearer temporarily gains Curse Vulnerability LV4), and retain the activated module effects until the next sunset]


    ["¡ªThe key forged from Ghad''s broken sword, its power along with the curse is sealed within."]


    No wonder Aiwass had no impression of the so-called "Bishop Mathers."


    Because he was not entirely from the Eternal Theocracy... He was a native Avalonian.


    His true identity was that of the final boss from a main quest in version 3.2, "Shadow of Avalon"!


    The avenger from the annihted kingdom of Avalon, controlled by the curse entwined with the reforged Holy Sword - Red-Handled Sword¡ª


    ¡ªHe was called "Holy Sword Guardian Samuel," the Cursed Holy Knight!

 Chapter 41: 24 Aiwasss Planning

    So you''re a boss too, big bro!


    Aiwass immediately felt a sense of kinship.


    Although theoretically, Aiwass should be on the protagonist''s side, he was acutely aware of his own vile nature. It seemed that bing a boss wasn''t that far off for himself.


    Moreover, in Aiwass''s view, a boss was, in a sense, a "hero who had taken a misstep."


    ¡ª¡ªAt least, that was the case after the mid-point of the version, when everyone''s presence had been established.


    Because they had sided with the wrong team, stood against the tides of their times, or because of various reasons had made a misstep... they had be bosses and entered the dungeons.


    If they had taken the right step during critical moments of wrong decision-making, perhaps they could have survived. They might have even be great heroes, as they too harbored their own beliefs.


    Take the Holy Sword Guardian Samuel, for instance.


    He loved his homnd, Avalon. Hence, after the destruction of the Kingdom of Avalon, he traveled the world, seeking power. Eventually, he found the technique to reforge the Holy Sword, turning the key of the St. Genvieve Chapel, which he guarded, into the "Holy Sword-Red-Handled Sword," once wielded by the ancient hero Ghad.


    What he didn''t know was that this sword contained a powerful curse. It was for this reason that it had been cut off and sealed by the Mage Merlin.


    One must wield this sword with a steadfast and pure will. Samuel, who picked up the Red-Handled Sword without any warning, was almost instantly overwhelmed by a curse that had been brewing for hundreds of years, dominated by a Light-affinity Phantom Demon born from the curse, ultimately bing a key executor of the "Shadow of Avalon" n.


    Aiwass treasured the heavy key and epted it.


    He knew how much Bishop Mathers valued this key and that the Bishop was aware of the key''s origin and worth.


    He valued Aiwass so much that he was willing to lend it to Aiwass temporarily for self-defense¡ª¡ª


    At that moment, Aiwass had made up his mind.


    Apart from his sister Yulia...


    He would also seek to change the destiny of Samuel Mathers as a way of repaying the trust and esteem he was shown at this moment.


    Strictly speaking, this wasn''t difficult; all he needed to do was prevent the reforging of the Holy Sword. But a more radical solution would be to prevent the fall of Avalon itself.


    And that was something Aiwass was already intending to do.


    Because our goals align.


    In Aiwass''s heart, the tasks he set out to do intensified, but he didn''t feel burdened by it; rather, he was eager to begin.


    Just then, an idea sprang to Aiwass''s mind:


    Although he certainly didn''t remember the main storyline, and he had almostpletely forgotten those important NPCs. He only remembered a few NPCs from the protagonist''s camp, and had no idea when the rest had joined the team or paid any attention to their personal stories.


    But Aiwass remembered the bosses!


    At least, he was intimately familiar with the main path''s bosses. Not only did he know their names, upations, and mechanisms, but he was even aware of their backgrounds to some extent¡ªlike how they ended up on their respective paths.


    So, in fact, Aiwass had a mature and stable way of acquiring rades-in-arms."


    ¡ª¡ªThat was to prevent the fated destiny of those destined to be bosses.


    If they could grow into bosses that yers needed to contend with, it meant they must also have notable strength. If Aiwass could redeem some essentially good people at the right time, he would likely gain their gratitude and help in return.


    Regaining hisposure, Aiwass pretended he didn''t know the value of the key, but still showed great appreciation and gratitude to Bishop Mathers, sincerely thanking him and vowing to return it within two months.


    There was no conflict.


    Unless something unexpected happens, the incident that caused Yulia to lose control should ur in just over a month.


    ```


    At least three third-energy level Demon Schrs and one third-energy level Legal Mage, along with a fourth-energy level Arbiter, were involved in that incident. He knew the Arbiter''s weakness, and perhaps by acting in advance, he might prevent him from attending the scene.


    But the remaining four were still difficult to deal with, not to mention the Demon Schrs who had prepared in advance.


    In the original storyline, it was through Yulia''s sacrifice that the enemy was resolved.


    To save the yers and Aiwass, she voluntarily lost control multiple times, finally fully awakening the Defiant me Butterfly. With herst bit of rationality, she controlled the Defiant me Butterfly to kill the enemies, and allowed the yers to take Aiwass away.


    After that, Yulia''s soul vanished. She became a part of the Defiant me Butterfly.


    And Aiwass could not shake people at will¡ªbecause he was going to seal the Phantom Demon and use the Shadow Demon in this incident, and Yulia would reveal her identity as a Phantom Demon Egg. It would be best if no one except Yulia knew about these two secrets of his.


    Initially, Aiwass also intended to resolve the incident with a Phantom Demon sealed in the nk Card.


    Now with this "Holy Sword," Aiwass had a lot more confidence.


    "...then let us continue to learn."


    Bishop Mathers steadied his mind, reluctantly epting the existence of someone "more talented than himself."


    He then passed on his experience to Aiwass even more earnestly, "The so-called Illumination Art is not about emitting shes of light, but is simr in principle to the Rite of Fire¡ªseeing diseases, curses, fatigue as ''darkness'' and dissipating them with light. Since it''s not burning but illuminating, the weak heat from this light disperses them. So this process is more stable, slower, and safer.


    "Imagine yourself as a candle, and your palm is the candle''s wick. You can ignite your own life force by drawing on your fire attribute, or you can use an external me to help ignite it, which could save some of your mana. But since you possess the Path of the me Container, you don''t have to be that frugal.


    "Then all you need to do is continuously channel light attribute mana, gently touch the other person''s forehead, back of the head or heart with your palm, and infuse the light generated from burning your life into them. This can help soothe the mind, dispel curses, heal wounds..."


    The Illumination Art is very simple. Anyone with a bit of light attribute mana can easily learn it.


    Aiwass didn''t use experience to speed up the learning process and took only about ten minutes to get it, proving his talent indeed.


    After that, he paid three experience points and quietly learned the Blessing Skill. However, he did not show it off¡ªbecause the Blessing Skill is the most difficult in the Sacred Arts. He could exin quickly learning the simpler Rite of Fire Skill due to Aiwass''s innate affinity for mes.


    But the Blessing Skill is not something one could learn instantly.


    That involved strengthening allies, sanctifying the environment or items, producing Holy Water, among other measures¡­prettyplex. He listened to the lecture for more than an hour.


    And the fact that Aiwass spent three experience points to learn it is proof of its difficulty. This confirmed that Bishop Mathers'' initial calctions were entirely correct¡ªfor Aiwass, Blessing was indeed three times more difficult than the Rite of Fire.


    That is to say, Aiwass used four experience points to save two to three days and a week''s time¡ªwhich was totally worth it.


    Because what hecked now was time.


    ¡ªTomorrow night, it would be the full moon of November.


    The full moon and the new moon of each month are the two specified days for advancement rituals.


    The sess rate of rituals during the full moon is twice that of the new moon, while the new moon is more likely to yield rare terms.


    In a month and a half, he was going to participate in a tough battle. Before that, he only had three opportunities for advancement at best.


    If Aiwass does not hold back his leveling, he could advance to Priest, Demon Schr, and Priest respectively, during the full moon, the new moon, and the full moon.


    If he missed this day, Aiwass would have to wait another two weeks to advance. And before the advancement ispleted, the overflowed skill levels would not trante into professional grades. That would be a waste of experience... which would directly lead to the copse of subsequent ns.


    As long as Aiwass wanted to produce the first nk Card within a month and a half, he had toplete these two advancements as a Priest, and he mustplete the first advancement tomorrow¡ªotherwise, with only half a month left, even if he took shortcuts, he would definitely not be able to raise his Priest level to 19.


    ¡ªFortunately, the two from the Pelican Bar provided valuable shared experience!


    Aiwass still had fifty points of shared experience. If he distributed it evenly among the four Sacred Arts, raising each by one or two levels, he could get his Priest level to 9!


    Thus, he could enter the Dream Realm during the full moon tomorrow toplete the first advancement ritual... and light up the second tier of his Path of Devotion directly!


    ```

 Chapter 42: 25 "The Last Case

    Aiwass and Oswald returned veryte.


    Bishop Mathers'' time teaching the Sacred Arts was not very long.


    Once the necessary information had been imparted, what remained was the persistent practice.


    After all, such things cannot be rushed. In the end, these mystical powers are only resonated with because Transcendents walk their own Paths, and because they align with the philosophical essence of their Paths.


    The reason why studying, practicing, and using Mystical Skills can raise one''s Extraordinary Profession level is that while Transcendents perform these skills, they are essentially practicing their own Paths.


    Since it''s about practice, it surely cannot be achieved overnight.


    Unless someone like Aiwass has made a breakthrough.


    Apart from "Basic Prayer," Aiwass had quietly mastered the remaining three types of Sacred Arts. Prayer didn''t need to be taught specifically since it''s part of Theological Seminary''s curriculum.


    Aiwass''s original "Basic Prayer" was just that he hadn''t learned the correct incantations and prayer rituals. Teaching this was too long, too troublesome... and whether or not one mastered the correct method of prayer, it didn''t affect his professional advancement.


    The correct incantations only served to summon the power of the Candle Master to heal the soul. Bishop Mathers demonstrated this to Aiwass once.


    Countless specks of light, likervae, flew toward Mathers from all around. As he prayed, a thin shell of light gradually covered him, bing brighter as time passed.


    During this process, Bishop Mathers'' Light attribute mana was visibly recovering at a slow pace.


    Generally, a depleted Mana Pool would only refill after adequate sleep.


    However, spellcasters of each Path usually have other emergency resupply methods besides sleep.


    The method for the Path of Devotion was "Prayer."


    Apart from the universal method of sleep, the Path of Devotion had two opportunities for prayer during the daytime. During the continuous guidance of prayer, the Light attribute Mana Pool would be slowly replenished, up to a maximum of half its capacity. Illumination Art consumed too much mana, and without using prayer to recover mana in a nonbat state, there simply wouldn''t be enough.


    The greatest advantage of the Mystical Skill of prayer was that it required no materials, no preparation, and would absolutely never fail.


    As long as one prayed twice a day, for at least three minutes each time, one could steadily gain skill experience.


    The skill level could grow steadily over time.


    Even the timing of the prayer was flexible. If one was busy, one could merge two sessions before dusk; if really busy, even skipping prayer didn''t matter¡ªit simply meant missing out on this free and steady experience.


    Afterward, Bishop Mathers specifically exined the most important knowledge to Aiwass, "The Nine Pir Gods actually don''t require faith."


    "From a certain perspective, we are rather using faith and prayer to bind the actions of the Nine Pir Gods. Or to put it another way, we''re like stakes driven into the ground, and faith is the rope..."


    But he didn''t borate.


    That was something Aiwass was not yet supposed to know.


    In any case, even if Aiwass had not mastered the correct method of prayer, he simply could not use the skill to replenish mana. Once he acquired more knowledge of the gods and the prayer protocols, [Basic Prayer] would naturally turn into the equivalent [Prayer].


    Afterward, Aiwass stayed in the chapel for a simple lunch. He ate themunion that had been sanctified during Bishop Mathers'' demonstration of the [Blessing] skill. Consuming it would grant a temporary BUFF that stabilized the mind and steadily restored physical strength.


    In a sense, Aiwass''s lunch was also today''s lesson material. Not a single bit was wasted.


    Aiwass also noticed that Bishop Mathers had not mentioned the fact that Aiwass was in a wheelchair at all.


    He hadn''t even offered to heal Aiwass''s body, to help him "stand up again."


    A healer of this caliber would likely know just by a touch that Aiwass was brimming with life force, without sickness or disability.


    So why was Aiwass in a wheelchair?


    Bishop Mathers must have had such questions. If Foster Father James hadn''t specifically mentioned this to him, then it indicated his emotional intelligence was maxed out¡ªthough he didn''t know why, if you didn''t mention it, I wouldn''t ask.


    Better to avoid the topic. Pretend not to have seen, not to know.


    After that, Bishop Mathers took Oswald to watch a ser match that seemed to be a big event.


    The teams were the "Unicorn Club" and the "Lake Sword Club."


    The former was a team from the Holy Nation, while thetter was from Avalon.


    Although Aiwass didn''t see the point of these two high-ranking Transcendents watching a bunch of mortals y ser... it seemed to be an important match. That''s why Oswald didn''t send Aiwass back but instead agreed, albeit reluctantly, to take him to the stadium.


    With their protection, surely nothing would go wrong.


    Even though Aiwass was uninterested, both were respected elders worth apanying for a bit of leisure.


    So Aiwass also put on a cheerful and happy appearance. Evidently, thepany was quite satisfactory.


    The former beat thetter four to nothing, a dominant performance that even aplete ser novice could discern. Oswald seemed very pleased, and while Bishop Mathers showed no particr reaction, heined, "I knew there was an issue with the club manager of Lake Sword." Overall, it was a happy asion for all.

 Chapter 43: 25 "The Last Case"_2

    However, Aiwass did get a strange piece of information from their chatter¡ª


    It was that the Moriarty Family''s old butler, Oswald, despite having served the Moriarty Family since the establishment of the Kingdom of Avalon, felt a deep sense of identity and affection for the Eternal Theocracy.


    Yet even so, when Aiwass tentatively asked him if he wanted to "go back and have a look," Oswald simply shook his head.


    "There''s nowhere to return to," the old butler sighed, saying casually.


    "The Holy Nation is good in every way, but there is no home left. Better not to go back."


    It was the first time that Oswald, who was as silent and reticent as a shadow, had ever mentioned his past in front of Aiwass and the other "young masters."


    After that, Aiwass fell somewhat silent as well.


    By the time Oswald, pushing Aiwass in his wheelchair, made their leisurely way back home, it was already evening.


    The setting sun hung in the sky, with theke in Moriarty Manor gleaming with a shattered gold brilliance. And at the iron gates of the manor, a lean young man with ck hair and brown eyes leaned quietly.


    He was perusing a dark gold-colored book, seemingly indifferent to his surroundings.


    The pages in his hand were emitting a mysterious blue-green glow, as clear and pure as the bottom of ake.


    He was boldly reading a forbidden book in front of Moriarty Manor without any fear, clearly very familiar andfortable with the ce.


    Because Aiwass was seated in a wheelchair, with a lower line of sight, he noticed the name of the book in the young man''s hand at a nce.


    ¡ª"rity Secret Sequence."


    Aiwass knew this book.


    This was a mystical skill from ancient times¡ªback in that era, the boundaries between Paths weren''t as defined as they are now. Thus, many ancient skills could possibly belong to multiple Paths. But this book was an exception.


    It was strongly attributed to the Path of Wisdom. The "Art of Vacant rity" it described was the precursor to the Path of Wisdom''s mystical skill "Meditation" that cameter.


    In the game, the owner of this book was supposed to be Sherlock Hermes. It was a collection he acquired shortly after the main storyline began.


    Sherlock was a Transcendent with adaptations to the Paths of Wisdom and Authority, and already had the dual professions of "Legal Mage" and "Mage" in version 1.0.


    He was a powerful ally who remained outside the main character group.


    Although he didn''t be a yer''spanion, he would asionally step in to help solve a few difficult issues. After the copse of the Kingdom of Avalon, he didn''t follow the yer to the Holy Nation, nor did he go to Star Antimony Kingdom. Instead, he epted an offer from the Iris Kingdom and held a government position for a while.


    It was clear from the name that this character was based on Sherlock Holmes.


    But different from the stereotypical image of Holmes with his "pipe and cane"¡ªSherlock, as a semi-insider of the ss Ind Supervisory Bureau and a high-level Transcendent, had much more money than the original Holmes and became famous much earlier. He also didn''t have his own Watson.


    At the start of the main storyline, Sherlock was just 26 years old. By that time, he was already the "Chief Consultant" that even the Supervisory Bureau Chief of the White Queen District had to treat with great courtesy.


    As a Legal Mage from the Path of Authority, he was much more extravagant in his spending on luxuries.


    He would buy the most expensive cigars he could afford, not the cheap pipe tobo. He wasn''t thrifty with his food either; every time he met with yers, he would take them out to eat. He would even take special trips abroad to attend the best concerts. The gifts he gave to friends were also of high value¡ªfor example, the gifts nned in his name for the yer were mostly expensive items for in-game purchases.


    This was a typical characteristic of the Path of Authority: only the best will do. It wasn''t for the enjoyment itself, but for the sake of having "the best."


    But after quickly spending the money he had on hand, he would calmly downgrade his consumption and live contentedly without money until the next incident made him rich again.


    The most prominent trait of Sherlock was that he never saved money. He never considered the situation of "what if I run out of money in the future."


    Because the young Sherlock was full of confidence in his abilities. With his own skills, he could always get a sum of money at any time¡ªhe just didn''t bother to earn it because he wasn''t interested.


    He believed that if he worried about what to do in the future, it would be like subconsciously implying to himself that his talents would eventually degrade. The suggestion that one day he would be dull was more intolerable to him than a downgrade in lifestyle.


    NPCs with talent and extreme pride, yet friendly attitudes towards yers, always had decent poprity among yers. There was also a substantial amount of fan art, cosys, merchandise, and doujinshi.


    Sherlock remained active throughout the main storyline until version 5.0, giving many standout performances.


    In the end, he died in the main storyline of version 5.1.


    The cause of death was bizarre ¡ª he was silenced by a retaliatory killing at a critical moment in an investigation when he was working on a case alone.


    Even though the plot was different from "The Final Problem," it might have been a hint at the direction of the story toe. The name of that big chapter was "The Final Problem."


    Looking back now, it might have been James Moriarty, Aiwass'' foster father, who killed Sherlock. Because it was not until after Sherlock''s death that Aiwass'' foster father reappeared in the storyline.


    At the time, yersmented, "Oh no, the one who''se back from ''The Empty House'' is Moriarty."


    Aiwass was extremely impressed with this event.


    Because when this suggestive main storyline name was exposed, the online discussions and fervor exploded. When the final storyline actually came out, the reaction of the yers was one of disbelief.


    Instead of anger or sadness, most of thements were "They really dare to hand out death notices, huh," "He can''t really be dead," "Waiting for the return from ''The Empty House,''" and simr remarks.


    They refused to believe it was true, but they feared it might be.


    It was like the feeling a little boy gets after making a girl cry, thinking, "She really cried?"


    Even Aiwass went out of his way to ask his screenwriter friend if Sherlock was really dead.


    The response he got was deliberately vague, "Probably."


    But even after Aiwass crossed over, the storyline of Sherlock''s "The Empty House" had still note about. Instead, James Moriarty leaped out, disying his identity as the ultimate boss of the version''s main storyline.


    As if he had noticed that extremelyplex gaze, Sherlock suddenly looked up in Aiwass'' direction.


    Seeing Oswald approaching with a wheelchair, he smiled and put away the book in his hand.


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Oswald,"


    he cheerfully greeted the old butler and nodded to Aiwass with a smile.


    Oswald obviously recognized Sherlock and greeted him warmly, "Mr. Sherlock, why don''t youe in and sit? The professor has been mentioning you a lottely."


    Aiwass knew that the old butler was quite proud, with the stubbornness of an elf and a sense of superiority.


    If it were not someone he approved of, he would never be so cordial.


    "Forget about it, if I go in, the professor will nag me again. I''ll just deliver the things and leave, I have other matters ¡ª just say hello to the professor for me."


    The young man with ck hair politely declined.


    "If you''re busy today, how abouting to the family dinner tomorrow? I will instruct the cook to prepare some good dishes in advance. After all, the professor really has been talking about you for a long time ¡ª and Mr. Sherlock, it''s been almost a year since you visited the professor."


    Oswald asked affectionately, with an attitude starkly different from the indifference he showed when meeting Hayna, "You haven''t visited the professor in almost a year."


    "I''m busy tomorrow night... You understand. When I have timeter, I will send a formal invitation to visit."


    Sherlock responded vaguely.


    He exchanged a look with the old butler, and Oswald seemed to understand, nodding his head and not pursuing the matter further.


    Aiwass also realized what Sherlock meant.


    If he says he has something important tomorrow night, it very likely involves advancement.


    His vague attitude suggested that this time his advancement was probably illegal ¡ª he dared to openly read the Mystical Skills books about the Path of Wisdom, yet was evasive about this matter.


    It must be that he had just recently acquired the secondary Path, and the "Mage" profession of the Path of Wisdom was about to advance to the second level!


    ... Just like himself.


    Aiwass was taken aback.


    Well, well.


    ¡ªWe won''t meet in the Dream Realm, will we?

 Chapter 44: 26 Benefit Exchange

    Aiwass actually didn''t know the specific process of the advanced ritual.


    The main reason was that the officials hadn''t created a map of the Dream Realm, so the yer''s advancement experience wasn''tplete. Among those essential materials for the ritual, only a few were slightly more expensive, and the rest were just fillers.


    As long as all the materials were gathered, a dungeon could be opened.


    Before level 50, entering the advancement ritual would line up a nine-yer dungeon, with each Path having one spot. Then, these nine yers would enter without fighting any minor monsters and directlybat a randomly spawned boss which was fairly easy to defeat.


    Afterpleting the dungeon, there was a random determination of whether the yers sessfully advanced. The higher the level of the advancement dungeon, the greater the failure rate. Without the use of extra materials to increase the sess rate, the number of yers who advanced during the full moon was double that during the new moon.


    In the beginning, the sess rate was quite high. When advancing from level 9 to Energy Level 2, six out of nine yers would seed, and even during the new moon phase, three could smoothly advance. However, as the levels increased, advancement became more difficult. When advancing from level 49 to 50, only the full moon dungeon guaranteed at least one yer would seed. It was even possible for all nine yers to fail the new moon dungeon.


    yers had gotten used to it.


    Just like not getting the desired cards when drawing. It was seen as a very normal thing.


    Starting from level 59, subsequent advancement dungeons would be high-difficulty solo dungeons.


    By version 6.0, the level cap for most Paths had been raised to 85. The Paths of Authority, Bnce, and Wisdom were the first to be opened up to level 90, while the others were still being unlocked in session. The final advancement from level 89 to 90 was frighteningly difficult, so much so that although the level cap was raised to 90, the vast majority of yers were stuck at level 89. Only a few who were both dedicated and willing to spend money, with a good skill set, could truly reach the maximum level.


    It was estimated that only after the level 90 cap for all nine Paths had been unlocked would they specifically lower the difficulty of previous Paths'' dungeons.


    This was what the officials did when they opened the level 80 cap previously.


    However, although Aiwass didn''t know how NPCs advanced, he at least understood one thing.


    That was, NPCs also definitely needed to match up with nine people from different Paths of the same rank for advancements in the first 50 levels. If there weren''t enough people, the ritual couldn''t be carried out¡ªof course, low-level advancement rituals would certainly have enough participants.


    In cases where there were enough yers, the nine nearest people would be selected first. If it wasn''t possible to gather enough locals, then they''d reach out further afield and grab one or two people to keep the distance between the nine yers as short as possible.


    ording to the mysticism texts of the Path of Beauty, the advancement ritual was "sharing prosperity under the full moon, and joint loss at the new moon."


    Based on the spections of the leading yers, perhaps during the full moon PvE was encouraged, and PvP on the new moon. This could also exin why the sess rate of the ritual was higher during the full moon.


    And tomorrow is the full moon, requiring a certain degree of cooperation in the dungeon.


    That means Aiwass would enter the Dream Realm tomorrow as a practitioner of the Path of Devotion. Sherlock would be of the Path of Wisdom.


    The Path of Bnce and the Path of Authority would probably be Avalonians. Where the advancers from the other Pathse from is hard to say.


    Meanwhile, Sherlock chatted amicably with Oswald for a while before bringing up serious matters.


    This slim man, who looked somewhat indolent, as if he wasn''t too concerned about anything, took a dark-covered book from his chest.


    Sherlock, holding the book upside down with the title facing downward, handed it to the old butler, casually saying, "My visit this time is just to bring something to Aiwass on behalf of Mr. Kent."


    "I thought it would be that girl with no sense of time handling this minor task."


    Oswald clearly remembered the incident where Hayna was two hourste.


    He handed the book to Aiwass without looking at its title himself.


    This was Oswald''s respect for his masters as a butler¡ªsince the book was a gift from the Supervisory Bureau for Aiwass, he wouldn''t examine it.


    Aiwass took the book and openly turned it over to look at its title.


    The Nurturing Secret Sequel.


    It was also a Codex Book. He didn''t remember its contents.


    But in terms of format, it should be an ancient technique of the Path of Devotion...


    Actually, it was a nice reward, Aiwass thought.


    Or rather, it was excessively generous¡ªany ancient technique that could be called a "Codex" had to be at least on the level of the church''s Sacred Arts. Sherlock received a Codex Book of the Path of Wisdom from the Supervisory Bureau only when he cracked a major case.


    ...For such a simple low-level dungeon, you''re giving me such a great reward?


    Why don''t you just beat me up instead? I feel a little uneasy holding onto this.


    "Please flip through the book to confirm you can open it, Mr. Aiwass," Sherlock said, his expression impassive and his tone deep, reminiscent of an overworked government employee, exuding an air of routine coldness. "If you can''t open this book, then I''ll have to take it back to the Supervisory Bureau. Mr. Kent will send you another Codex Book that you can open."


    Upon hearing this, Aiwass briefly flipped through it.


    Finding that he indeed could open it, he didn''t pay attention to its content and closed it, cing it on hisp.


    Seeing that Aiwass had confirmed, Sherlock gently removed his top hat.


    ```


    "Hello, Mr. Aiwass,"


    With a quicker pace than before, Sherlock went through the motions as he reported, "Mr. Kent ns to hold an awards ceremony next Thursday. The location is the White Ballet Shoes Club in the Red Queen District, and the time is five-thirty in the evening. There will be a dinner after the awards ceremony.


    "The nature of this awards ceremony is ''in the name of the Queen, to recognize outstanding Supervisory personnel who have made exceptional contributions to the eradication of evil,'' and to summarize the important events of the quarter. Mr. Kent invites you to attend. At that time, the General Supervision Bureau will present you with a Crystal Cross Medal."


    Upon hearing this, Aiwass immediately caught on.


    ¡ªThey''re looking for a favor from me and have given a deposit in advance, afraid that I''ll back out.


    What has happened recently that Aiwass could help with, and furthermore, that only he could help with?


    That would likely be the matter Aiwass had reported in the newspaper today.


    He had single-handedly cracked such a major case, personally shot down a dangerous fugitive, and even found and wiped out a Noble Red Society contact point within ss Ind... the premise of bing a "hero," a "celebrity," was founded on the Supervisory Bureau''s ipetence.


    After sealing off the Pelican Bar and following up on that clue for a deeper investigation... the Supervisory Bureau would easily find that it was a long-standing international ck market within ss Ind. Even non-Transcendents often purchased prohibited items there or even exchanged top-secret information.


    If they continued to follow this lead, it''s not just minor incidents like the Demon Schr or illegal forbidden books that could be uncovered, but they could even catch smugglers, spies, treason, and other major cases.


    But conversely, if they were to start investigating directly following the lead from Pelican Bar... that would be equivalent to pping their own faces.


    Such an important stronghold had gone unnoticed by them for so long right under their noses, but it had be an almost public secret among the civilians, an important market for trading illegal goods. And in the end, this secret was uncovered by a mere college student, a disabled person in a wheelchair, and someone who was not yet quite a proper Transcendent.


    The Supervisory Bureau would likely be in trouble then.


    Thus, Director Kent probably intended for Aiwass to take a stand¡ªsimply mentioning at the awards ceremony that "the Pelican Bar incident is rted to the Supervisory Bureau" would suffice.


    For this, he had even sent Aiwass a rather precious Codex Book.


    What''s more, by epting the book, Aiwass would likewise be epting thismission.


    Meaning Director Kent owed him a favor.


    So, Aiwass thought it over and revealed a fox-like, mischievously pleased smile.


    "¡ªSupervisory personnel?"


    He feigned confusion, but he was confident that both Sherlock and Oswald would understand his meaning: "But I''m just an ordinary person. I''m even still a student."


    Sherlock clearly understood what Aiwass meant.


    "It''s no problem,"


    he said decisively: "You''re not formally an Inspector, but even as a student, you can serve as a counselor for the Supervisory Bureau. Just like me, with a nominal position at the bureau. There won''t be any actual tasks; you just need to indicate you are part of the Supervisory Bureau at critical moments. Later, if you''re interested in participating in any incident investigations, you can also join as a counselor."


    Sherlock''s words were very smooth, clearly reciting verbatim what Director Kent had said.


    With Sherlock''s counselor status, he could make such promises to Aiwass was obviously because Director Kent had foreseen Aiwass''s reaction before Sherlock''s departure.


    That meant the director had previously sought out Hayna for a detailed inquiry into Aiwass''s character, abilities, and the tasks at hand.


    When he realized that Aiwass was a smart man who wouldn''t be easily fooled, he immediately arranged for Aiwass more substantial benefits.


    "Mr. Kent''s exact words were, ''This is a reward for your act of bravery and also an advance appearance fee for inviting you to the awards ceremony.''"


    "Of course, if you really don''t want to attend, it''s not a problem; you can still keep the book, and I can decline on your behalf to Mr. Kent."


    Sherlock readjusted his top hat, pressing the brim down a bit.


    "¡ªSo, what''s your answer?"


    "Of course I agree. Please tell the director that I will be there on time,"


    Aiwass said, his smile gentle as he deliberately omitted any mention of the Nurturing Secret Sequel book.


    It wasn''t until then that he truly understood the weight of his own identity.


    Now he wasn''t just an undocumented yer with no backing... he was Aiwass Moriarty.


    When James was still alive, before Avalon was destroyed, no one could take his credit away. No one could treat him as a tool, to be ordered around at will. If they wanted Aiwass''s help, they had to exchange benefits, never to take without returning.


    And immediately following, Aiwass also realized another matter:


    ¡ªGoodd.


    So when I was ying as a gamer, these people quietly took so much from me!


    ```

 Chapter 45: 27: The Two Who Were in the Orphanage

    When Oswald pushed Aiwass through the door, they were greeted not only by the male servants of the house.


    Yulia, wearing her pajamas and holding her doll, stood quietly by the window.


    She had been eagerly watching Oswald push the wheelchair, slowly making his way along the front path. Then she ran to the door to wee them.


    "Miss Julia was waiting for you," Oswald whispered behind Aiwass.


    Aiwass nodded, also lowering his voice, "I think Yuli is just feeling a bit lonely. After all, kids her age are usually ying with ssmates at school. But the only peer Yuli has to see is me."


    The old butler sighed but said nothing more.


    He simply closed the door as Yulia approached, keeping the biting winter wind of the early evening outside.


    His brow furrowed, he said sternly, "Miss Julia, the wind is chilly in winter. Please don''te too close to the front door."


    "...I''m fine."


    Yulia stubbornly murmured, "I''ve already taken medicine twice."


    "That''s still not good," the old butler said without hesitation. "You''re already frail, and catching a cold would only make things more troublesome..."


    "...It''s alright, Mr. Oswald. If Yuli gets sick now, I can also treat her," Aiwass interjected warmly. "I believe the Sacred Arts taught to me by Bishop Mathers are meant to be used at times like this."


    With that, he first took off his coat to reveal the sweater underneath.


    Aiwass ced his hands inside his sweater, trying to warm them with his own body temperature.


    He had juste back from outside, his coat and hands covered in the chill. This would be very ufortable for Yulia, whose body temperature was higher than normal. It was much like how a person with a fever would feel cold.


    This was also an old problem for Yulia.


    From a young age, Yulia''s body had been home to a Phantom Demon in itsrval state¡ªthe Defiant me Butterfly.


    Individuals like her, hosting arval Phantom Demon within them, were called "Phantom Demon Eggs."


    Their spiritual, physical, and even life force would be continually drained, nourishing the Phantom Demon inside. If they died due to weakness or external forces, the Phantom Demon within would awaken and cause a disaster. However, if the Phantom Demon could be safely nurtured to a certain stage, they could borrow some of its power even without taking the Transcendent path.


    As the Phantom Demon further developed, the strength of a Phantom Demon Egg would gradually increase, requiring more and more stringent nutrition for growth. Only when the Phantom Demon developed aplete personality would its growth be consideredplete. At that point, it could choose to awaken forcefully or be a symbiotic partner with its host.


    The choice lies in the hands of the Phantom Demon, not the host, which is why hosts are called Phantom Demon Eggs¡ªbecause most Phantom Demons choose the former.


    Even though the Phantom Demon inside Yulia had not yet awakened, it had already granted her some of its powers. This, in turn, ced a heavier burden on her.


    Yulia''s body temperature was a few degrees higher than that of a normal person.


    Specifically, it was as if she was in a constant state of fever. Her body temperature was a bit higher than average... at six or seven years old, it was half a degree higher; and now it was two degrees higher than the average person''s.


    With a constant temperature around 38.5 degrees Celsius... if it weren''t for regr treatments from the church priests, she would''ve probably died a long time ago.


    More troubling was the fact that this kind of fever was unrted to diseases or curses, and thus could not be cured through Transcendent methods. It could only be treated using Illumination Art on her nerves and organs, and with magic potions to help her body replenish the nutrients required by the Phantom Demon.


    Yulia was not James''s biological daughter, either. She was his foster daughter as well.


    The reason she was so close to Aiwass was that they were both in the same orphanage as children.


    When Aiwass was four years old, his biological parents had died in an ident. He was too young at the time and his memory was very blurry. He didn''t know exactly what had happened.


    Afterward, Aiwass entered an orphanage where he met Yulia.


    At that time, Yulia was an abandoned baby in swaddling clothes.


    Baby Yulia, with an almost demonic strength, often injured the caretakers. There were only a few people who could easily approach her: the matron of the orphanage, Mrs. Misu who cooked, and Aiwass. So the task of caring for her fell upon the matron''s shoulders... But the matron was old, and Aiwass, who was umonly sensible from a young age, would take the initiative to help out.


    Aiwass was only three and a half years older than Yulia, but he was exceptionally mature. He didn''t have the childish habits of his peers and always remained calm in any situation, never showing a hint of panic, like a well-seasoned adult¡ªif it weren''t for his genuinely innocent childlike nature and apparent ignorance, some might have suspected another soul dwelled within him.


    And this was not impossible.


    The Preservers of the Dusk Path, the Amber Craftsmen, could indeed ce one person''s soul into another''s body. Aiwass was so unusual that it scared people.


    The orphanage specially invited a Priest from the church to verify if his soul was truly his own.


    The two exceptional children grew increasingly close. Yulia almost always clung to Aiwass''s side.


    In the orphanage, their clothes were very thin. With a body like a furnace, Yulia ensured that Aiwass stayedfortable in winter. Back then, Aiwass could only fall asleep by holding Yulia so he wouldn''t shiver with the cold.


    This continued until the year Aiwass turned six, when they were both adopted by James Moriarty.


    Aiwass remembered this very clearly¡ª


    In fact, originally, James wanted to adopt only Yulia, not Aiwass.


    But when Yulia was torn away from Aiwass''s side, she cried terribly and her spirit was extremely unstable. Moreover, her strength at the time was abnormally greatpletely different from her present frailty, possessing a kind of innate terrifying power.


    At only three years old, not even several adults could move her.


    Some were even dragged to the ground by her, causing chaos at the scene. The entire orphanage was disturbed for a long time, and many things were knocked down and broken by the frenzied Yulia.


    It wasn''t untilter that James inquired about something from the matron, which suddenly changed his mind and led him to take both of them away. Only then did Yulia calm down.


    As Yulia gradually learned to read, her personality became more gentle and introverted, and that strange, innate strength also faded away. To this day, she has be so weak that she is even less robust than her female peers, barely sustaining her life relying on the Priest and magic potions.


    Aiwass had always been grateful to Yulia.


    It was because of her that he had the opportunity to change his fate. Being an orphan with no parents, and having the surname "Moriarty," they were bound to have vastly different futures. In fact, he was not supposed to be adopted, merely an addition to Yulia. Even though James was kind to Aiwass, he never forgot that he was initially unwanted.


    For Aiwass, who had lost his parents at a very young age, Yulia was the person he had been in contact with for the longest time, even two years longer than his foster father and elder brother Edward.


    And Yulia also depended a lot on Aiwass.


    She had no feelings for her birth parents. For her, who had no parents even before her memories began, Aiwass was her real family. Next in line were the matron, Mrs. Misu, James, and her elder brother Edward.


    After Aiwass warmed his hands, he gestured for Yulia toe over.


    The fragile girl with white hair and red eyes obediently hugged Aiwass''s neck from the front. Her left knee knelt beside his leg, carefully ensuring her weight did not press down on him.


    "Don''t worry, Yuli. I''m not that fragile,"


    Aiwass couldn''t help butugh.


    He stretched out his right hand and gently pressed on the position behind Yulia''s left back, where her heart was.


    With a bit of fire mana as a catalyst, a soft radiance bloomed from the palm of his right hand.


    As the gentle light seeped through Aiwass''s fingers, Yulia''s body gradually rxed. Her breath, which was short and shallow, also slowly became steady¡ªthe illness was easily dispelled by Aiwass.


    Although she had been ill for a long time, under the premise of James''s continuous treatment, she wasn''t very sick¡ªbecause before each deterioration of her condition, he would call for a Priest to heal her hidden injuries. Aiwass used only two points of Light mana to heal her body.


    Subsequently, Aiwass moved his still-glowing right hand from her back and ced it on Yulia''s forehead.


    With the nourishment of the light on her spirit, hernguid mental state also immediately improved significantly. This time, Aiwass used less than a point of mana.


    Yulia''s body remained feverishly hot. But clearly, she would be able to have a good night''s sleep today.


    "Good girl," Aiwass''s mouth lifted slightly, "Let''s go, time to eat¡­"


    Just then, Aiwass absentmindedly touched the Codex Book thaty on his knee.


    His movement paused for a moment.


    For he had never touched Yulia''s Codex Book, yet now when he did, it radiated the same burning heat as her body, and a distinctly different, bizarre sensation.


    It felt as if Aiwass wasn''t touching the cover of the book but was making contact with the skin on Yulia''s back instead.


    Without the barrier of clothing, the heat was even more intense than what Aiwass felt when touching Yulia moments ago, almost to the point of being scalding.


    But the strange sense of incongruity made Aiwass look down.


    There was no steam rising from the air, and the material hadn''t changed at all. It was still the same sort of leather-like material.


    That''s when Aiwass suddenly realized¡ªthat although it was burning hot, his legs didn''t feel the heat at all. Only his right hand, which had just used Illumination Art, experienced this illusion. Even when touched with his left hand, it felt like a normal temperature.


    So, discreetly, Aiwass handed the hot Codex Book to Yulia, "Can you help your brother put this book in his study, alright?"


    "Mhm."


    Yulia nodded lightly in response.


    Receiving the book, she showed no particr reaction.


    It was as if she didn''t feel any of its heat at all.


    "Does it feel a bit cold? It has also been exposed outside for a while," Aiwass asked with concern.


    "A little, but it''s okay," Yulia hummed a reply and then asked, "Where should I put it, brother?"


    "Just ce it in front of the desk. It''s a book that your brother wants to read after dinner."


    "Okay."


    Yulia nodded, then left with the book.


    Aiwass confirmed something.


    It seemed that only he could feel the change in temperature and touch of the Codex Book.


    Interesting, he thought.


    I''ll thoroughly examine it after dinner.

 Chapter 46: 28 Shepherd

    In the depths of the night, the waxing gibbous moon almost dipped back into the earth. The horizon showed the faintest hint of dawn.


    In Aiwass''s room, the seat clock rhythmically swung its pendulum, its hands now pointing to 4:20 a.m.


    Yet he sat still in his wheelchair, motionless as a statue, leafing through the "Nurturing Secret Sequel".


    Two streams of eerily purple-red tears slid continuously from the corners of Aiwass''s eyes, who sat dazed at his desk, dropping tepidly onto the pages of the book before being absorbed into it.


    Aiwass was engrossed in the secrets within the book.


    His skin flushed crimson, the veins on his forehead and arms visibly swollen. Those veins, which should have been tinged with blue, showed a web of deep purple.


    Despite it being winter, the room remained warm. Yet with Aiwass''s deep and harsh breathing, wisps of a pale, white hot mist continuously exhaled from his mouth. asionally, a low cough would spark a few embers.


    Only when morning came and birdsong was heard outside did Aiwass seem to awaken from a great dream.


    His eyes cleared, and the purple veins on his face slowly retracted.


    By then, he had unwittingly reached the end of the thin ck leather book. The knowledge had been deeply etched in Aiwass''s memory, vividly recalling it the moment he closed his eyes. The words even seemed to glow.


    "...So it''s such a thing," Aiwass murmured with a solemn expression.


    The ck Codex Book contained the description of a mystical skill known as "Shepherd''s Nurturing".


    It was a mystery dating back more than a thousand years¡ªlong before the concept of "profession" existed.


    At that time, almost all Transcendents were journeying along various Paths because the superhumanmon sense of "minimizing the number of Paths to delve into simultaneously" had not yet been established.


    Walking multiple Paths at once not only made it easy to go mad and hindered progress on each Path but also was extremely detrimental to inheritance. In that environment, every Transcendent, after a lifetime of developing and mastering mystical skills, had to pass them on to sessors who matched their personality, hobbies, and essence exactly.


    Therefore, in ancient times, Transcendents were a rare presence in human society. Moreover, their superhuman powers were not very strong.


    Without an inheritance system, almost no Transcendent could pass on their legacy beyond three generations. Each individual''s progress along their Path was severely limited by their personal exploration alone.


    It was not until about the fourth or fifth century that the concept of "profession" began to form. Transcendents, through various forms of practice, gradually purified and radicalized their personalities, rejecting the Paths they did not intend to traverse. They were careful not to let their intrinsic nature be corrupted, and while maintaining their original intent, they aimed to align as much as possible with the safe paths already explored by their ancestors.


    The principles of the nine major Paths are actually quite blurred. Their boundaries ovep each other and are constantly changing.


    For example, the Path of "Beauty" associated with art has the most noticeable shifts. Almost every few hundred years, people''s understanding of "beauty" changes. Many arts considered unorthodox in the past became "ancient trends" decades or centuriester.


    But if a Transcendent had no guidance, they could easily stray.


    Because all mentally healthy ordinary people would certainly fit the criteria of multiple Paths at once.


    For instance, wild Transcendents of the Path of Devotion might also stumble upon the Illumination Art. But if they do not know that the core principle of the Path of Devotion is "altruism," they can easily take the path of "exploiting their healing abilities to grasp power." For example, bing the leader of a small religious faction.


    That would easily lead them onto the Path of Authority unknowingly.


    Simrly, those who pursue knowledge and science on the Path of Bnce, aiming to demystify everything, could end up on the Path of Wisdom if they be too obsessed with truth or deem themselves intellectually superior, surpassing ordinary people.


    If one bes overly fixated on bing a Pope or bishop, eager for promotion within the church hierarchy, then they have already set foot on the road to Transcendence.


    If one were following two Paths, it might still be manageable. But everyone''s mental and physical energy is limited, and humans are forgetful.


    If one''s original purpose is utterly forgotten, bing entirely different from one''s former self... then the power that originally came from the Path of Devotion would also weaken and vanish over time.


    The most important part of "profession" inheritance is the "baseline of the Path." Even if the scope of the Path is vague, its core must be clear. Therefore, one should not test the boundaries of the Path, but follow only the most central part of its principles and use only the safest part of its power, thus gaining a rtively pure force of the Path.


    Even if a Priest yearns for promotion or seeks money, power, or desire, as long as they remember that the core principle of the Path of Devotion is "altruism," they will not lose their Priest ss rank for it.


    With the advent of the "profession" system, superhuman knowledge could be formally passed down. From then on, Transcendents as a whole have be increasingly powerful.


    But that does not mean the ancient mystical skills were weak.


    The mystical skills from the pre-profession era were almost all legacies left by the strong of those times.


    For example, the "Nurturing Secret Sequel" that Aiwass acquired was imprinted from the memories of a man known as "Shepherd".


    This skill requires adaptability to both the Path of Devotion and Path of Transcendence and demands that these two Paths be as bnced as possible¡ªonly when the depths of the two Paths are consistent can one use the "Art of Herding".


    When Aiwass advanced his Priest profession, he could temporarily no longer use it before the Demon Schr advancement.


    And this Mystical Skill could be frankly described as sorcery¡ª


    Its basic principle was "to nurture the tangible with the intangible, and to nurture the intangible with the tangible."


    Overall, it described a Mystical Skill that could make anyone stronger¡­


    After opening the book, Aiwass fell into an illusion. From those words, he faintly saw a hooded man in a ck robe, feeding a weak demon with his own flesh and blood.


    He did not sign a contract with the demon but simply seduced it with his flesh and blood to follow him. It was like keeping a pet, and akin to herding cattle and sheep. These weak demons were nurtured by him and became progressively stronger.


    As a result, he himself became gaunt and covered with scars.


    After that, Aiwass saw people kneeling before the man in the ck robe, imploring for something.


    And the man, with a special technique, infused the intangible strength of the demon into the supplicants. Amidst a ze, it brought a drastic change to them and also endowed them with strength.


    Thus, the supplicants became the man''s followers. They killed many people, offering them as sacrifices to an ever-increasing number of demons. And when they weakened, they too were ruthlessly used as sustenance for a new batch of demons.


    Through such exploitation, the demons gradually became stronger and more numerous. Thereafter, using the same secret method, he infused these demons into other followers craving power.


    In this way, he amassed an evil legionprised of demon-possessed individuals.


    The legion garnered various secret treasures and usurped wealth for him. The man, growing weaker and weaker, started to nurture more and more Phantom Demons. At this point, not only demons followed him. Even light-attribute Phantom Demons appeared by his side.


    They were all raised by the man from a young age. Without a contract, they willingly epted the man''smands and shared a portion of their strength with others.


    Under the management of the man in the ck robe, his followers increased in number, and they grew increasingly powerful.


    Like a snowball rolling, in a short time, they formed a terrifying force. This attracted attacks from all sides.


    In the end, during the encirclement by the alliance, he sacrificed those followers who had followed him as food, nourishing powerful Phantom Demons with the Art of Herding.


    Anyone who had been nurtured by him was powerless to resist the forceful sacrifice of the Shepherd''s Nurturing.


    They were used as sustenance, summoning even more powerful Phantom Demons.


    Aiwass saw it all clearly in the illusion.


    Although it was only a silhouette, it was undoubtedly the "Fallen Celestial Marshal" who had descended in version 3.0 and had been defeated!


    The n of the man in the ck robe went awry at thest moment¡ªhe tried to use the Nurturing Skill to infuse the Fallen Celestial Marshal''s power into himself.


    ¡ªbut he had not expected that the Nurturing Skill would suddenly fail at that moment.


    He himself could not properly contain the power of the Fallen Celestial Marshal. He missed the optimal moment.


    Without using the Nurturing Skill capable of extracting the essence of Phantom Demons without harming their nature, his actions became a theft of the Phantom Demon''s essence¡ªand the infuriated Fallen Celestial Marshal struck him down in retaliation, and thus he was killed by an assassin from the alliance.


    The man known as "Shepherd," his evil legacy was thus severed.


    "...Because when he tried to infuse the power he had seized into himself, he had already deviated from the Path of Devotion," Aiwass sighed.


    This name, he really hadn''t chosen it incorrectly.


    To use humans as a sacrifice to feed the Phantom Demons, then extract power from the Phantom Demons, or directly sacrifice the entire Phantom Demon to nurture humans.


    It was like a real shepherd.


    Using omnipresent grass to herd cattle and sheep, then obtaining milk and meat from them.


    The grass represents themon people.


    The cattle and sheep represent the Phantom Demons.


    Such a deplorable metaphor.


    ¡ªIf one does not regard the endless grass as a cost, "nurturing" cattle and sheep would then seem like a secret technique that creates something out of nothing.

 Chapter 47: 29 Forbidden Technique: Nurturing Skill

    When Aiwass closed the "Nurturing Secret Sequel," the ck leather-bound book no longer conveyed that warm and delicate feeling akin to human skin.


    It became quiet, as if everything before had been but an illusion.


    And at this time, Aiwass finally understood why he had not seen this book in the original history.


    Because, if someone could indeed open this tome correctly, they would most likely destroy it immediately.


    ¡ªThe knowledge recorded in it was far too dangerous.


    It resolved a core issue with the Path of Transcendence¡ªTranscendence could not make others apart from oneself stronger.


    The nature of the Path of Transcendence is to rebel against the higher-ups, to pursue surpassing and seek elevation, it is an extremely selfish path.


    Reliant solely on the power of Transcendence, one cannot bring profit to others. This has led to Demon Schrs often gathering together, yet their strength never uniting as one.


    And the "Art of Herding" integrated the characteristics of the Path of Devotion. It allows one to benefit others by sacrificing oneself.


    Feeding one''s own flesh and blood to a demon, then bestowing demonic power upon mortals¡ªthis logic conformed to the criteria of the Path of Devotion because in this logical chain, the demon is merely a symbol. It''s like earning money and then sharing it with the poor.


    Simrly, using humans as sacrifices to nurture demons, supplying these Phantom Demons with strength for growth, without taking any kickbacks or demanding any return also meets the criteria of the Path of Devotion¡ªThe ''altruism'' of the Devotional Path is not limited to humans or kin, as Phantom Demons are certainly considered ''others'' too.


    And when demons want to reciprocate the nurturing with strength, one still takes nothing for oneself, giving it all to others. Thus, no ''trade'' is formed, also in ordance with the standards of the Devotional Path.


    The entire act is filled with ambitious demonic traces; from the motive, one can discern the unmasked ''desire to ascend''¡ªat any cost, to be stronger. Yet it does hold a divinepassion, always adhering to the sole principle of ''helping others gain strength to fulfill their wishes.''


    What the Shepherd does is not a trade, but an unconditional charity.


    But in the end, the Shepherd still gets everything desired, achieving an almost perpetual cycle.


    "¡ªThis book must not be left behind."


    A very clear thought emerged in Aiwass''s mind.


    If someone other than himself reads this book, they might see the Great Beasts of the "Master of Beasts" as the Shepherd''s flock.


    Moreover, if this book were purely a Devotional Path tome, then it could not possibly be a "forbidden book" kept by the Supervisory Bureau.


    The fact that it could be taken away by the inspectors is enough to show that the book is not so clean-cut.


    Of course, having been given the book by the Supervisory Bureau, it was legal for Aiwass to peruse it. As long as he did not teach the knowledge within to others, the Supervisory Bureau would not trouble him but would turn a blind eye.


    That is not the issue.


    The real issue is... where did the Supervisory Bureau acquire this book from?


    This is the original tome. As long as someone can correctly open this book, they can acquire its knowledge and inherit the legacy of the Shepherd.


    Does that mean someone has be the "Shepherd"?


    If someone knows of the "Nurturing Secret Sequel" and traces it back to being taken by the Supervisory Bureau on ss Ind, that person might eventually find Aiwass following this clue.


    This unknown enemy made Aiwass tense.


    He did not know who the adversary was¡ªwhether the heir of the "Shepherd" or someone elseing to hunt down the "Shepherd." He did not know when these people mighte or even if the hypothetical enemy truly existed.


    But just in case.


    Aiwass needed to gain stronger influence in Avalon to drive the Supervisory Bureau to track the potential "Shepherd" in reverse.


    At the same time, Aiwass indeed possessed the "Shepherd''s Nurturing" skill...


    After Aiwass finished reading the book, a new skill had silently been added behind his Priest and Demon Schr professions.


    Now, Aiwass''splete panel looked like this:


    Priest LV6: [Basic Prayer-2nd level (3%)],[Rite of Fire-1st level (5%)],[Illumination-1st level (15%)],[Blessing-1st level (0%)],[Shepherd''s Nurturing (Flesh)-1st level (0%)]


    Demon Schr LV5: [Demonology Knowledge-1st level (16%)],[Basic Ritual-1st level (5%)],[Demonic Pact-2nd level (3%)],[Shepherd''s Nurturing (Essence)-1st level (0%)]


    Unlocked Paths: Dedication-First Layer; Transcendence-First Layer


    Mana Pool: 2/5 (Light), 4/5 (Darkness), 11/15 (Fire)


    Free Experience: 50


    Path Traits¡ª


    Transcendence-Shadow Affinity LV1: You have signed a life pact with a Shadow Demon and can freely use first-level shadow abilities.


    Dedication-me Container Lv1: You have consumed the Blood of Candle Master, expanding your soul. Your Mana Pool (Fire) maximum capacity has increased by 14


    Authority-Silver Scale: With this mark as a token, the Silver-Crowned Dragon watches over you; a certain vow you have made must not be broken. When you attack any who break their vow, you gain a +1 advantage (Divine)


    ¡ªAs the selected heir, the perfect inheritor of the "Shepherd," Aiwass indeed received theplete transfer of the "Shepherd''s Nurturing" skill.


    And undeniably...


    This taboo skill was indeed very useful to Aiwass.


    Because when the "Nurturing Secret Sequel" mentioned using "flesh to let Phantom Demons grow," Aiwass realized he had previously overlooked something vital¡ª


    In the game, Great Sin Schrs and Masters of Beasts leveled up "Great Beasts" by repeatedly farming Phantom Demons of the same attribute. Just by setting up a boss as the designated attribute Phantom Demon, they could immediately challenge and defeat it. The Great Beasts would then grow by devouring the remains.

 Chapter 48: 29 Forbidden Technique: Nurturing Skill_2

    But this isn''t very practical in real life.


    Because he didn''t have an "Instance Finder" to randomly arrange instances, and Phantom Demons couldn''t infinitely respawn like the bosses in the instances. So he could only feed them corresponding rare materials to level up the Phantom Demon¡ªwhich required a huge cost, and collecting materials also took time and energy.


    But if he had the "Shepherd''s Nurturing" skill, he could use himself as fodder, sacrificing to the Phantom Demon.


    Aiwass''s oath was "I will not use the lives or corpses of my own kind as ritual materials or offerings," and he certainly didn''t fall under that category.


    After all, "self-sacrifice" was a standard ability for Demon Schrs. Moreover, it wouldn''t prevent advancement to be a Great Sin Schr.


    Though "Shepherds" would be emaciated and scarred due to this flesh nurturing.


    But Aiwass had the most orthodox Priestly heritage. Among the four Sacred Arts prepared over hundreds of years through meticulous selection by the church, the "Rite of Fire" could enable Aiwass to quickly recover lost life and heal his own bodily injuries.


    ¡ªNo need to use others as sacrifices.


    It''s enough to let the Great Beasts slowly feed on my own flesh.


    Only, this cycle of spiritual flesh, feeding off the masses and perpetual movement, was unachievable for him.


    He could grant others the power of the Phantom Demon and use his own flesh to feed it, but he couldn''t feed humans he nurtured to the Phantom Demon in return¡ªbecause that would involve sacrificing his own kind and would taint his soul.


    At this moment, Aiwass also finally understood why this ck-leather book reacted when it got close to Yulia.


    Because it sensed the malnourished Phantom Demon that had been suppressed inside Yulia for a long time.


    The original tome itself also had a faint spiritual awareness.


    Incubating a Phantom Demon Egg was the simplest way to obtain a weak, juvenile Phantom Demon.


    Within the illusions of that ck-leather book, Aiwass saw that a "Shepherd" at mid-development acquired a multitude of juvenile Phantom Demons through this method:


    The children, used as Phantom Demon Eggs, were gathered from all over the world by his legion. After long-term feeding with soups prepared using his blood, the Phantom Demons inside them grew rapidly, ultimately causing the "eggs" to crack and hatching out the Phantom Demons.


    "...Anyway, first just destroy the book.


    Aiwass muttered to himself.


    Whether his foster father would be the ultimate boss or not, he couldn''t let him see this book. Not to mention the trouble if his older brother or Yulia saw it. After all, the knowledge inside had already burrowed into Aiwass''s brain; he couldn''t forget it even if he wanted to.


    From the moment he got the book, whether he used it or not, he would be suspected of having used it by those who knew.


    So there was no point in being reserved. Not only would he use it, but he would use it thoroughly!


    Just right, now there was a chance to try the soothing effect of the "Shepherd''s Nurturing" on the Phantom Demons...


    Thinking this, Aiwass stood up from his wheelchair.


    The moment his feet touched the ground firmly and connected with the earth, the Shadow Demon lying dormant in his shadow was roused.


    His shadow spread out like ink diffusing across paper in an instant.


    [My master...]


    A thick voice with echo arose in Aiwass''s mind, filled with a dangerous feeling.


    [You summon me... for what purpose?]


    "Destroy it."


    Aiwass said softly, tossing the "Nurturing Secret Sequel" into the bubbling shadow.


    But it wasn''t dissolved.


    The Shadow Demon showed clear discontent.


    [Heh, you can''t always treat me like a trash can, master. Not everything can be thrown into me... I crave fresh flesh, sacred souls, is...]


    Aiwass drew his pure silver dagger from the table as the Shadow Demon was expressing discontent.


    It was a Ritual Dagger, excessively sharp butcking in resilience.


    Aiwass smeared the dagger with essential oils infused with cinnamon essence and rosemary, into which he had injected a bit of Light Attribute Mana and Dark Attribute Mana respectively.


    Then, he passed it gently over a candle me, and a deep, dim light emerged from the dagger.


    Aiwass extended his right hand and took a deep breath.


    Then, he clenched it fiercely until the de cut through the flesh and lodged into the bone.


    "Then take it, my blood, my bone, my flesh..."


    Enduring the intense pain, he murmured in his heart:


    [Feast in silence, mymb...]


    [This is the Holy Communion, this is mercy]


    The Mana Pool within Aiwass suddenly loosened¡ªthe little remaining tri-colored Mana randomly infused into his blood, like water surging out uncontrobly from an unplugged bathtub.


    He imagined that the blood flowing from his wound was not red but golden honey and white milk. He lowered his eyes and looked at the Shadow Demon with apassionate and mournful gaze.


    Aiwass strove to keep his heart free from any fear, greed, pain, and hatred, filled only with pure goodness and love.


    As if whaty before him was not a cunning and deadly Demon but a starving street child begging for food.


    It was pure, equable, supreme benevolence.


    ¡ªVoluntary sacrifice carried a sanctity. Just as when Aiwass volunteered himself as an offering, he could summon an Upper-Level Demon.


    And now, his willingly offered blood, transformed through the proper ritual, became an exceedingly sweet and delectable offering, potent enough to addict a Phantom Demon¡ª

 Chapter 49: 29 Forbidden Technique: Nurturing Skill_3

    The Shadow Demon, which had been full ofints, immediately fell silent.


    It rose from the ground like a mad creature, wrapping around Aiwass''s right hand as gently as dozens of entwined snakes, greedily licking up every drop of blood, along with the spaces between fingers and the back of the hand.


    Not until the Mana Pool within Aiwass waspletely depleted, unable to produce another drop of mana, did the "Shepherd''s Nurturing" rituale to an end.


    Aiwass withdrew the Ritual Dagger, and the wound scabbed over by itself.


    Even though that scorching, searing blood had vanished without a trace, the Shadow Demon still intently licked Aiwass''s right hand, reminiscent of a pup continuing to lick its master''s palm even after having eaten the food from it.


    "...It seems you like it a lot."


    Aiwass''s face was pale, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.


    His voice was somewhat weak¡ªhalf due to blood loss, half due to severe pain.


    During the ritual, he couldn''t afford to furrow his brow or show disgust and fear due to the pain, or the nurturing ritual would fail.


    But now he could.


    The deep, bone-visible wound indeed caused him tremendous pain, but fortunately, he endured it forcefully, allowing the ritual to seed.


    [...Yes, Master]


    The attitude of the Shadow Demon changed instantly, bing obedient.


    [I... like it very much]


    The tone became visibly ttering, no longer the murky danger of wildness, but a hoarse and deep female voice.


    The Shadow Demon was an amorphous entity, without a physical body or gender.


    This was simply its way of expressing fawning and submission to Aiwass¡ªin its own clumsy manner.


    "Let''s return for now," Aiwass said calmly, "Do you still remember what I asked you to do?"


    [Of course, my noble Master...]


    The Shadow Demon replied without hesitation.


    It transformed into a sleek ck hound, leapt up high, and charged at the Codex Book that Aiwass had tossed on the ground.


    But it was repelled¡ª


    The ck leather book burst into searing light upon the Shadow Demon''s impact, like a hammer striking an anvil.


    One strike merely tore the leather book, but it did not corrode immediately.


    The Shadow Demon, as if provoked and losing face, instantly morphed into an even more ferocious and massive wolf and charged again at the "Nurturing Secret Sequel."


    This time it could no longer resist¡ªthe corrosive shadow continued to pour into the pages, and they withered, decayed, darkened, shriveled, and twisted at a visible pace until they turned to dust and vanished without a trace.


    The Shadow Demon sunk back into Aiwass''s shadow, disappearing without a trace.


    Aiwass had no time to carefully wipe off the blood remaining on the Ritual Dagger and could only thrust the silver de back into its sheath. This would undoubtedly ruin the Ritual Dagger, but he had no choice but to ignore that now.


    After the ritual was over, he felt an increasingly intense exhaustion and dizziness.


    His fingers trembled wildly from the intense pain and loss of blood, thepletely depleted mana making his brain swell wave after wave. Everything before his eyes contracted and then expanded, as if he was drunk and on the verge of cking out, or as sleepy as one might feel during aplex mathematics ss...


    ¡ªNext time, at least I need to reserve some mana for the Rite of the Sacred Fire. Being entirely devoid of mana is indeed debilitating...


    Good, this is a very important lesson. Better to learn it in a safe ce than to first understand it in a moment of crisis...


    With these choppy thoughts floating in his mind, Aiwass stumbled toward the bed.


    He didn''t even manage to undress or cover himself with a nket before he passed out on his own bed.

 Chapter 50: 30 Department Head Meg

    ```


    It was the day after Hayna grabbed the headlines, coincidentally a weekend.


    Hayna returned to the Royal Law University after a long absence.


    Though it was a rest day, there were still quite a number of people on campus. After all, final exams were only a month away, and evenst-minute cramming had to start sometime.


    Hayna, however, was not the least bit anxious.


    She even donned her armor and paired it with the short sword exclusive to Inspectors, standing at the bottom of the girls'' dormitory building, smilingly watching her juniorse and go.


    "Hello, senior!"


    "Hayna, senior."


    "Good morning, Senior Hayna."


    "By the Silver-Crowned Dragon... I wish you well, Miss Hayna."


    The juniors passing by, and even those of the same level as Hayna, politely greeted her upon seeing her. The busy students couldn''t help but cast envious nces at the leisurely Hayna.


    They were still working hard preparing for their final exams, but Hayna had already graduated early!


    But they could never have guessed Hayna had done this on purpose.


    She wasn''t back because she was busy with something.


    She simply wanted to stroll around campus leisurely while watching her juniors busy with their exams.


    So refreshing. Ah, so refreshingly liberating.


    It was as if the fatigue and pressure rued from staying upte to prepare for her early graduation exams had been cleansed...


    The Royal Law University was not purely a Transcendents'' school.


    It had a hundred and forty buildings for teaching, and six departments. Only two of these departments taught students how to be Transcendents, and two more departments prioritised teaching mystical skills of other Paths.


    These were the "forbidden arts" that started to be taught only twenty years ago, under the queen''s charter, pursued for the prosperity and development of the kingdom¡ªsuch as Alchemy, Arts, and Preservation Arts.


    The remaining two departments focused on producing high-quality Civil Servants for Avalon, with thergest number of students, all of them ordinary people.


    The crisscrossing teaching buildings could be considered a small town in their own right. Divided into six major areas by the intertwined streets, each area was filled with various merchants and residents. In fact, one could purchase most of what they needed without ever leaving the "University" territory.


    Theyout of the Royal Law University took up a significant area of the Red Queen District. Thus, the Red Queen District was also known as "University District."


    The property prices here were extremely high, so much so that Hayna could not even fathom.


    The core areas of the Red and White Queens on ss Ind were noble precisely because one could directly view the "Lake in the Ind"¡ªone could even see the Hall of Silver and Tin glittering under sunlight from the top of a teaching building with the naked eye.


    Here, it was almost a daily urrence to run into Knights.


    Hayna''s department was the Individual Tactics department. Although they were Transcendents, they also needed to learn cultural knowledge.


    ¡ªThis was a policy proposed by Her Majesty to improve the quality of Transcendent talents.


    To make Transcendents into governors with extraordinary powers rather than a source of chaos¡ªthere''s no need to worry about how much to concede to Transcendents to keep them appeased, because they are the pirs of the kingdom.


    This was why the academic pressure at the Royal Law University was immense.


    Irisian Language, Star Antimony Language, Elvish Language, Advanced Mathematics, Fundamental Theology, Modern History, and Document Writing were general education courses that all departments were required to master.


    Specific to Hayna, she also had "Law," "Rhythm Tactics," "Swordsmanship," "Aerial Riding Skill," "Battlefield Command," "Path Identification," "Equipment Maintenance and Battlefield Healing," seven specialized courses.


    Beyond that, she was also required to take four elective courses.


    Her choices were "Applied Emerald Gemology," "Anesthesiology," "Wine Brewing Production Management," and "Common Veterinary Disease Prevention and Treatment."


    While it seemed she was studying a vast array of subjects... in fact, her motivation was clear and traceable.


    ¡ªThis was Hayna taking advantage of the Royal Law University''s strong educational resources and the plethora of professional books readily essible in the library, based on the assumption that she might be severely injured or even disabled and lose her job in the future, preparing in advance by learning four courses that would likely be able to sustain her.


    But at the same time, she was unsure what would be profitable in the future. So she studied fourpletely unrted fields haphazardly.


    With a foundationid down, further learning would be much simpler.


    Just then, Hayna suddenly shivered.


    Instinctively, she sensed someone had silently appeared behind her.


    A paralyzing fear gripped her heart as her eyes opened wide instantly. Like facing a gust of wind head-on, she gasped for air but couldn''t draw a single breath.


    Tense with nerves, she subconsciously clutched at the short sword in its scabbard¡ª


    "¡ªGood morning, Hayna."


    A robust and clear female voice rang out, "Hey, don''t be scared. [Put it back]."


    With a clink, the short sword that Hayna had drawn slightly slipped from her grasp and slid back into its sheath as if the weapon itself refused to be drawn in front of this person.


    Only upon hearing her voice did Hayna finally rx and slowly released her hand.


    "Department Head Meg..."


    How could such a significant figure appear out of nowhere without any noise? It really gave me a scare...


    She mentally grumbled, turning around and, with her right hand over her chest, bowed respectfully: "Good morning, Department Head Meg."


    Before Hayna stood a middle-aged woman with silver-white hair, prominent cheekbones, and clear wrinkles on her face.


    Judging purely by skin and appearance, she looked to be at least in her fifties, maybe even over sixty. But her bright and spirited eyes, along with her robust body and loud voice, made her appear at least twenty years younger.


    ```

 Chapter 51: 30 Department Head Meg_2

    Department Head Meg''s most distinctive feature were her high, strong shoulders. Muscles that even fitness-focused young men would struggle to attain bulged under her loose clothing.


    "Ahahahahaha!"


    Megughed heartily.


    Herughter was bright and resounding, audible clearly even dozens of meters away, "I knew it¡ªstartled you, didn''t I?


    "But not bad, Hayna! A few months ago, you wouldn''t have even noticed my presence when I touched your shoulder. Now, I merely approach from behind and you sense it¡ªthis shows that the months of experience have indeed paid off!"


    This incident could be considered Hayna''s humiliation.


    A few months earlier, she had applied to graduate early¡ªemboldened by her exceptional grades, she had been full of confidence. Her request to graduate early had even rmed Department Head Meg, who personally came to witness Hayna''s graduation assessment.


    Back then, just like now, she had appeared behind Hayna without a sound. But Hayna had been oblivious.


    Even when her bow tie was leisurely undone by Department Head Meg, she waspletely unaware throughout the process.


    It wasn''t that Meg had entered Stealth, but that she made Hayna''s brain "dare not acknowledge her existence."


    It was the Authority Force at work, forcibly altering cognition, much like calling a deer a horse.


    And now, at least Hayna could sense the danger¡ª


    Even though Department Head Meg surely wasn''t being serious, it still indicated Hayna''s growth.


    After Department Head Meg''s arrival, the students around them visibly dwindled.


    Initially, there had been quite a crowd around Hayna, but now arge space had cleared around them.


    This wasn''t just awe of a school leader.


    It was also because of the intense and distinct "Authority" emanating from Department Head Meg. Those of a lower rank on the same Path dared not approach.


    This spirited elderly person was one of the strongest beings in the world today.


    ¡ªThe Grand Arbitrator, Meg. The Deputy Director of the Arbitration Hall.


    She held the supreme privilege of executing direct descendants of the royal family.


    The reason she was "Deputy" Director... in Avalon, a deputy position was in some ways stronger than the chief position¡ªbecause the chief had term limits, but the deputy did not.


    For twenty years now, Meg had been the Deputy Director of the Arbitration Hall. The Director, who changed every three years, had been reced seven times, each one Meg''s student.


    Even during the royal session, Meg had to be present as a witness.


    After the new king''s coronation, she would be the third to pledge allegiance to the new king¡ªthe first was the Minister of Military Affairs who controlled the army and foreign spy agencies, followed by the Knight Commander of the Round Table Hall who also served as the Minister of the Privy Council. And the third was her.


    Other royal family members had to wait until the sixth spot orter.


    Merely standing with Old Meg made Hayna''s heart race.


    It was as if standing before her was not a kindly and robust olddy, but a fully-grown lion within arm''s reach.


    ¡ªIf she thought to run away, she would probably fall, for her legs would stiffen with fear.


    She had once, with her own strength, intervened in a war.


    It was Avalon Kingdom''s short conflict with the Iris Kingdom twenty years ago, due to border frictions, known as the "Ten-Day War."


    When Meg arrived at the battlefield, all she needed was one sentence to make soldiers from both sides sheath their swords and point their guns at the ground.


    She carved a "Peace Boundary" in the border area¡ªanyone who considered themselves a "soldier" could not cross it. Approaching the boundary would bring unbearable fear, paralyzing them on the spot.


    That boundarysted four years before it gradually faded. Now, with the two countries'' improved rtions, it became a famous tourist spot,memorating that brief ten-day conflict.


    Hayna, of course, was not this esteemeddy''s student. She wasn''t qualified yet.


    Sherlock had been invited to be herst disciple¡ªhowever, he refused.


    The olddy did not insist. But since then, she stopped taking on new students.


    It was rumored that she had recently begun preparing to step down from her position as Deputy Director of the Arbitration Hall. This was a well-known secret within Royal Law University¡ªbecause the new Deputy Director would be their young chancellor.


    And this chancellor had also been a student of Department Head Meg.


    "It was in the newspapers, wasn''t it?"


    Old Meg assessed her, raising her eyebrows with an inscrutable question.


    Hayna, extremely nervous, kept her head down, not daring to raise it: "Yes, very fortunately... I actually didn''t do much, it was mainly because of Mr. Aiwass..."


    "¡ªOh, ''Mr.''."


    The olddy repeated with a sly smile: "You respect him a lot, don''t you."


    Hayna was startled, holding her breath. She didn''t know how to respond.


    "Don''t be ashamed, you did right. I''ve heard about him from Yanis," Meg said with a voice as firm as iron: "''The correctness of the stronger is more correct.'' No matter if you''re his senior or predecessor, you''re not his match in this respect. So you follow hismand¡ªthis is inplete ordance with the concept of the Path of Authority."


    At these words, she finally rxed.


    Being acknowledged and encouraged by such a respected mentor uplifted Hayna immensely. The world seemed to brighten before her eyes, and her body felt much lighter.


    This even gave her the courage to ask proactively: "Excuse me, Department Head Meg... Did you perhapse looking for me?"


    "Yes, I did," Meg replied with a candid smile. "Isn''t that obvious?


    "You''re a good kid, hardworking and diligent. But still a bit slow," Megmented on Hayna who had graduated a year early with full marks in all subjects.

 Chapter 52: 30 Department Head Meg_3

    This left Hayna feeling somewhat disheartened.


    She knew she was far inferior to Sherlock... but she didn''t realize how incredibly talented Sherlock was inparison.


    The seniors before Sherlock had all be mid to high-level officials, and all their past information was confidential.


    But seeing her demeanor, Meg''s lips curved slightly upward, offering rare praise, "However, we, the royal des that walk the Path of Authority, need not be overly clever."


    "I ask you¡ª you know the Pelican Bar has been shut down, right."


    "...Yes."


    It''s normal that it had closed, thought Hayna.


    After all, it was a gathering ce for the Noble Red Society, a group of illegal Transcendents¡ªthey couldn''t possibly be getting together to discuss iris literature and Elf poetry, could they?


    "Then do you know, your roommates often went to the Pelican Bar?"


    Department Head Meg, seeing the shock on Hayna''s face, raised her eyebrows and added, "Be honest."


    "¡ªNot often," blurted out Hayna, "but they did go."


    She almost immediately realized she had let something slip.


    But in front of someone higher up on the Path of Authority, she had no secrets.


    "Have they ever invited you?"


    "They invited me once, but I refused. After that, they didn''t invite me anymore."


    "Oh."


    Meg said meaningfully, "No wonder you didn''t know."


    Didn''t know... what?


    "Do you know what they go to the Pelican Bar to buy?"


    "To buy what...?"


    Hayna was somewhat puzzled.


    "They go there to buy cosmetics," Meg stated directly, "the powerful cosmetics made by Star Antimony Kingdom''s alchemists. They can make the skin of someone in their thirties or forties appear as supple as that of a teenager¡ªalthough, if you ask me, they are far from needing such products. But it''s normal for girls to be interested in this stuff."


    "The Anti-aging Elixirs from Star Antimony also sell well, even though the side effects can lead to physical weakness and significant muscle atrophy¡ªI''ve warned repeatedly, and still, some of my students use them."


    ...Ah.


    Hayna finally understood.


    ¡ªShe knew something was off!


    She had thought earlier that the skin of those Royal Capital girls was incredibly tender and fair, seemingly able to ooze water. They were also in the "Individual Tactics Department" and didn''tck practice in swordsmanship and horsemanship, yet their hands had no calluses, and the skin on their thighs wasn''t chafed. Their waists were slender and supple, showing no trace of muscle.


    Hayna had once thought it was down to their natural gifts, even felt inferior¡ªthinking she was too rustic, her body appearing as if she had been working in the fields, too prone to gaining muscle.


    Now she finally knew.


    They had been taking drugs all along!


    "¡ªDo you have anything to say?"


    Just then, Department Head Meg interrupted Hayna''s thoughts with a piercing gaze.


    Her mind suddenly went nk.


    What... what was I about to say?


    But the next moment, she vaguely caught onto something.


    "The alchemical products from Star Antimony Kingdom are illegal, aren''t they?"


    She muttered, "So they are smuggled goods... I get it, that''s why they didn''t insist on inviting me. Because they knew I had no money."


    "...Wait, isn''t the Pelican Bar a gathering ce for the Noble Red Society? Why can one buy smuggled alchemical products from the Pelican Bar?"


    She suddenly jolted, realizing, "Is the Noble Red Society involved in the smuggling case?


    "No, that''s not right¡ªthey''re involved with the official Star Antimony authorities?"


    "Not too stupid."


    Old Meg nodded in satisfaction.


    Finally, she began to speak about serious matters: "Our spy in Star Antimony has sent back important information¡ª"


    "Wait, wait a minute, am I qualified to know this..."


    Hayna, sensing a strong sense of crisis, muttered hesitantly in a voice only she could hear clearly.


    Without paying any attention to the now intimidated Hayna, Meg continued, "There''s a batch of powerful, small-sized portable Alchemical Bombs that have been shipped to Avalon. The target is believed to be ss Ind.


    "The power of this batch of bombs is enough to blow the entire Red Queen District sky-high. We had been unable to trace the entry of these bombs until now. But since the day before yesterday, while investigating the Pelican Bar... the Supervisory Court found that these bombs were being transported through the Pelican Bar.


    "The achievement you''ve made is much greater than you think."


    Meg''s eyes were sharp as a hawk''s.


    Sheughed heartily, pping Hayna''s shoulder: "So, I give you an opportunity.


    "Both the Inspector''s Court and the Arbitration Hall are investigating this matter. Normally, your Supervisory Bureau would not be able to touch such affairs. But whether it''s you, Sherlock, or Aiwass, you all interest me."


    "I grant you temporary authority to investigate¡ªnot that your bureau chief has anything to say, let hime to me. Take along any counselor you want to invite, whatever you want, I''ll reimburse; it''s okay if you don''t find anything, I''ll take care of it.


    "I want to see if I was mistaken a few months ago. If you can dig up vital information before we resolve the matter... "


    Meg said with profound meaning, "I still have a spot for a closed-door disciple... which I might reserve for you."

 Chapter 53: 31 Preparations for the Promotion Ceremony

    "Sulfur, salt, mercury."


    At dusk, Sherlock Hermes was in his room, confirming the alchemical materials he would need for the advancement ritual that evening.


    He wore a monocle, diligently checking the scrawledbels on the bottles and jars.


    Murmuring softly, Sherlock''s finger traced over the bottles and jars on the shelf: "Sanctified silver powder, blessed holy water. A bunch of wind-dried ck sage, an unused clear quartz crystal, six new red candles¡­"


    Meanwhile, in the Hall of Silver and Tin.


    Princess Isabel was also pacing nervously in her room.


    Her mouth continuously muttered the list of materials needed for the advancement ritual, visibly restless.


    "There''s also clove essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, cypress essential oil, Parthia essential oil¡­ and evesting flower essential oil, chamomile essential oil¡­ and¡­ and¡­"


    Watching her, the elf artist Yanis, who was humming a tune and writing aposition, put down her pen with a sense of helplessness.


    "¡ªAnd there''s ginger, dill, white bread. Look here¡­ Little Isabel, what are you so nervous about? You must trust your court ritualists; they''re much more reliable at setting up rituals than you are at preparing them."


    "Yes, I know¡­"


    Isabel murmured, not even insisting on the usual correction to "Call me Isabel, not Little Isabel."


    Feeling somewhat breathless, she lightly clutched the neckline of her white gauze dress, as though she wanted to lift the cor to fan air inside and ease her tension¡ªbut considering the image and dignity of the royal family, she dared not perform such a vulgar act in front of others.


    "The first advancement is very simple; there''s no need to be nervous."


    Yanis encouraged her gently: "You have to believe in yourself. You are very strong, with a foundation firmer than most people''s. With the first advancement, especially during a full moon¡­ There should be around six or seven people who will advance, so what are you afraid of?"


    "¡­What I''m afraid of is exactly that."


    Isabel''s face showed worry: "If among nine people, six manage to advance and I do not¡ªthat would be a loss of face for the royal family if word got out.


    "Moreover, people would gossip about you, saying negative things. They would spread terrible rumors¡­"


    She had embarked on the Path of Beauty purely due to Queen Sofia''s doting love. Because for the royal family of Avalon, the Du Lac lineage, one would normally only be allowed to choose the Path of Authority.


    Of the queen''s six grandchildren, the one Her Majesty favored most was the second youngest, Isabel.


    Isabel was younger than only one, her two-year-old brother.


    And from a very young age, Isabel had shown exceptional artistic talent.


    When she was only four years old, she attended the opera "Lulu''s Magic Flute" with Queen Sofia. Without understanding the Star Antimonynguage, she was able to hum the arias after hearing them just once.


    Queen Sofia was very pleased. After all, before she became queen, she herself had dreamed of bing a grand opera master. She even wrote a few operas in her spare time after ascending to the throne, only refraining from publishing them out of consideration for her status.


    Among her many children, only Isabel inherited her talent for opera.


    For this reason, she opposed many and made an exception.


    She allowed Isabel to step onto the Path of Beauty and formally study the "arts."


    ```


    The Path of Beauty is the way of harmony and art, flow and eternity.


    And the key skill of the Path of Beauty is "art."


    This includes opera, musicpositions, painting, sculpture, theater, dance, poetry, all of which are part of the mystical skills of the Path of Beauty.


    Art in itself is mystical. Great masters of art without exception, are all pioneers of the Path of Beauty.


    Just like the key skill of the Path of Authority is "Leadership Art"¡ªthe Monarch''s art ofmanding and coordinating others to submit to one''s will, which also possesses a mystical nature.


    If one wishes to deepen their path, excelling in just one skill is definitely not enough.


    Perhaps because of her quarter elfin lineage, Isabel''s talent lies in singing and dancing.


    And since she was to embark on the path, she had to walk it steadfastly.


    Transcendents, once they step onto a path, will be troubled by a desire to ascend higher¡ªtheir addiction to delve deeper and rise higher. The longer they stay in one ce, the more likely they are to go mad.


    It''s like in a certain industry, where young people with some talent, but not geniuses, often feel despair over real talent¡ªthat is a chasm of the soul that outsiders cannot feel, and only those who delve deep into the industry can understand.


    Such a feeling of powerlessness and shock, if it urs on the transcendent path, will drive a person mad.


    The Path of Beauty, with its emphasis on perceiving the beauty of the world and understanding its harmony and eternity¡­ is thus even more likely to lead to madness.


    Those masters who specialized in a single art almost invariably went mad.


    Therefore, Queen Sofia specifically invited Master Yanis to teach Isabel the skills of painting, sculpture, andposing.


    Because this was the safest route to advancement.


    After all, session was not of concern for Isabel. Since the Queen was happy, why not let the child y?


    That''s what others thought at the time.


    But good times didn''tst long.


    Beginning from a decade ago, the Avalon royal family suddenly started falling ill one after another.


    Initially, it was suspected to be poisoning, butter it was confirmed that someone was performing a powerful royal curse¡ªthat even the church''s Illumination Art could not fully dispel, and the holy relics of sages past could not protect against this persistent and potent curse.


    If a curse could not be dispelled or resisted with the power of a whole nation, it could onlye from another nation.


    Who else could it be?


    It had to be the Kingdom of Star Antimony.


    Though Avalon had no evidence,mon sense dictated¡­the only Ritualists capable of using such potent ceremonies could only be in the Kingdom of Star Antimony.


    Therefore, starting a few years back¡ªwith the first royal sumbing to the incurable curse and dying of illness¡ªAvalon and Star Antimony officially entered a state of hostility.


    To this day, Isabel''s father is the only one left alive of his generation.


    In her own generation, half have already died of illness.


    Only her eldest brother, Isabel herself, and her two-year-old younger brother remain.


    ```


    She did nothing, yet somehow she became the third heir to the Kingdom of Avalon.


    ¡ªIf she truly were to inherit the throne, a significant problem would arise.


    The Avalon that revered the Path of Authority would have a new queen with no affinity for the Path of Authority whatsoever.


    Currently, she is the third in line, but no one knows if she might suddenly be the first. Because even being "third" is already a dangerously precarious position.


    Isabel had done nothing wrong, and neither had Master Yanis. However, due to the shifting circumstances, rumors had even spread among the kingdom''s elite that the Kingdom of Star Antimony''s goal was to ce Isabel on the throne¡ªto plunge Avalon into chaos from within.


    The entire kingdom''s privileged ss, all the Transcendents in government departments, and even the majority of soldiers hailed from the Path of Authority. How could a queen of the Path of Beauty possibly earn their absolute loyalty?


    Therefore, Isabel felt immense pressure.


    Any mistake she made would be endlessly magnified, criticized, and med.


    But she did not want to me them.


    Because she could sense that they, too, were under great pressure, anxious about such a future.


    She could understand that their worries were justified¡ªif she really became queen in the future, Avalon would likely descend into prolonged chaos. But indeed, she had no adaptability for the Path of Authority... She had tried many times, but she really couldn''t learn it.


    All she could pray for was that her brothers would stop dying.


    But there was nothing she could do about it. This wasn''t up to her.


    She could only do everything ording to the rules, quietly, and do her best¡ªnot to give others the opportunity to nitpick.


    For this reason, she did not utilize her royal privileges. Instead, she enrolled in university and lived alongside other students.


    It was only after passing three semesters''prehensive assessments in her freshman year that she formally became a Transcendent through the official channels. Before that, she strictly limited the scope of her studies, focusing only on the more peripheral parts of the "artistic" skills that ordinary people could also reach... And then it was a continuous refinement of basic skills, but never involving the study of Transcendent powers.


    She patiently practiced the basics for thirteen years.


    It was boring and seemingly meaningless, painful enough to induce vomiting. But she still persevered.


    Because she wanted to show that she wouldn''t abuse royal privilege capriciously.


    She hoped that in doing so, those voices of dissatisfaction would be silenced.


    Isabel strived to diminish her identity as a "princess," hoping that people would see her as an ordinary person and not the third heir to the kingdom.


    It was only now that she suddenly realized¡ª


    Perhaps she had never truly been an "ordinary person."


    She was still served by people, pampered by them, helped by them.


    While other Transcendents were preparing their rituals by themselves, she could only sit to the side sipping tea. The Court Ritualist would take care of everything for her¡ªshe didn''t have to worry about her Ritual Array being drawn incorrectly, nor fear acquiring inferior or counterfeit materials that could cause the ritual to fail.


    "...I think, I''d better do it myself," Isabel decided firmly.


    She bowed deeply to the Ritualist, "Master Osborne, my apologies... It''s not that I don''t trust you. It''s just that, perhaps my presence on the side... might not be good."


    Isabel didn''t know how to describe the tension and anxiety in her heart.


    But watching the white-haired Ritualist prepare the ritual for her always made her feel restless.


    It felt as if a mistake of hers was being borne by someone else.


    Her elder brothers and sisters had always been very protective of her. Whenever she identally broke something, they were the ones to admit fault first.


    Although young Isabel was never scolded, she still always felt restless.


    ¡ªJust like now.


    It was as though something was tormenting her heart.


    "Please let me prepare the Ascension Ceremony myself," Princess Isabel repeated.


    Her voice became clearer, not as timid as before, "You can assist me from the side, Master Osborne."


    To the side, the white-haired Ritualist chuckled, stroking his beard and nodding his head in agreement.


    "Sure, my little princess. Indeed, such matters... one truly needs to do it oneself to feel the ritual significance.


    "Remember this feeling well, Your Highness. The first time entering the Dream Realm, the first contact with the other eight Paths. Truly leaving the status of ''apprentice'' behind, bing a real Transcendent¡ª"


    Meanwhile, on the other side.


    In Moriarty Manor, Aiwass, holding his forehead, got up from his bed.


    He hadn''t really slept enough.


    But his spiritual intuition told him that if he didn''t wake up now, it would be toote for certain matters¡ªso he forced himself awake.


    The evening sunset was falling outside.


    With trembling hands, Aiwass struck a match several times before finally managing to ignite it.


    Shivering, he lit the white candle by his bedside¡ªobviously a "healing remedy" prepared by Oswald.


    Gripping the me, Aiwass felt the vitality steadily flowing from the candle into his body, which finally allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately... due to his interest in mystical studies, his room was equipped with various materials. There wouldn''t be a dy.


    As the saying goes, "The worse the student, the more school supplies they have."


    Even though he didn''t know how to use them, he had bought whatever he could find.


    ...It''s just that he hadn''t eaten all day. He was so hungry it made him panicky.


    Better figure out a way to fill his stomach, thene back and hurry to prepare for the Ascension Ceremony.

 Chapter 54: 32 Advanced Ritual

    When creating the Phantom Card, Aiwass was still able to sit in a wheelchair.


    But for the advanced ritual, this was not possible.


    Fortunately, Aiwass had fed the Shadow Demon enough that morning. Even when he stood up and was fully linked with his own shadow, the Shadow Demon that awoke didn''t lose control at all.


    The shadow under Aiwass''s feet wriggled slightly, asionally lifting a bit to show that it was still alive, still present.


    The shadow that asionally floated up reminded one of the "Aura of Immortality" special effect created from dry ice¡ªexcept this aura was of a pure ck, without any other colors.


    It was really more like an aura of dark magic.


    In actuality, the materials and process of the advanced ritual were not entirely consistent.


    The general ritual itself was not that rigid; much of a ritual''splexity, and the difficulty in obtaining the materials, actually came from deliberate obfuscation. Essentially, this obfuscation was simr to the codednguage found in alchemical texts. The purpose was to prevent the essence of the ritual from being deciphered.


    That is why Aiwass was able to create the Phantom Card effortlessly.


    As a ritual that would onlye into existence three yearster, it had not yet gone through the process of repeated encoding, misinterpretation, and re-encoding, so its essential meaning had not been distorted. This allowed Aiwass, with only a level 1 in Basic Ritual, to replicate it easily.


    The advanced ritual, on the other hand, was just the opposite.


    The advanced rituals of various heritages had slight differences among them.


    The ritual Aiwass used was a simplified version he had seen in his foster father''s library, a rite widely circted among the Avalon Knight Families¡ª


    The advantage was that it wasn''t too troublesome; the downside was that it required the consumption of a small piece of white crystal... about the size of a thumbnail nail, as thin as a coin. But since the crystal itself was not expensive, it was a minor issue. Aiwass had drilled a hole in it and strung it on a cord to make a disposable pendant.


    He had prepared six silver ornaments: two bracelets, a ne, two rings, and a tiara.


    Then, he coated them with Clove Essential Oil, Cinnamon Essential Oil, Cypress Essential Oil, Parthia Essential Oil, Evesting Flower Essential Oil, and Chamomile Essential Oil, cing each at the six points of the six-pointed star he had carved out¡ªthese six nt oils,bined with the silver six-pointed star Array carved out with a sharp tool, were the core of the ritual, the irreceable parts.


    Afterward, Aiwass prepared three kinds of food that he disliked.


    He chose radishes, bitter melon, and green pepper. He cut a thin slice of each symbolically and ced them in the center of the six-pointed star.


    With that, the pre-ritual preparations wereplete.


    Aiwass dressed in the school uniform from Theological Seminary. Although it was a school uniform, it also served as formal priest attire.


    It featured a Pure White priest cor with two embossed rose patterns adorned with golden thorns at the neckline¡ªthese ornaments even contained real gold. His shoulders and chest were adorned with brown drapes, again decorated with antler-like golden thorns. The robe reached down past his thighs. Below that were brown trousers and cloth shoes.


    <img data-y-imgId="10003689" data-y-path="/imgChapter/3633979704448701/26438401209058604/10003689/a7cbd5493e22518243fd6fc2e4d2b7836PY9BctHwgn0q5B.jpg">


    Anyone at a nce could tell that this was a priest from the Nine Pirs Divine Church.


    He closed the door tightly, waiting until the full moon rose above forty degrees. It was then time for the ritual to officially begin.


    "¡ªThe Nine areplete."


    Aiwass chanted softly.


    As he spoke, he lit a bundle of dry sage mixed with mugwort, bound into a herbal stick.


    Like toasting a cigar, he repeatedly seared the tip of the herbal stick.


    In fact, it could be considered a kind of cigar¡ªjust as coffee could be regarded as a sort of soy milk in a certain sense.


    Sage is the mostmonly used herb for smudging and sacrificial burning, having different effects when mixed with various herbs. Combined with mugwort, its primary purpose was to block the influence of other Paths'' power on the advancement ritual.


    In Aiwass''s case, it was to suppress the interference of his own Transcendence Path on the ritual.


    "Forsake the three..."


    Aiwass murmured, pressing the smoldering herbal stick into the center of the six-pointed star.


    "¡ªEternal Self, Lord of Scalefeather, Amber."


    These three names were the names of the gods of the Path of Love, the Path of Adaptation, and the Path of Dusk respectively.


    This was a necessary part of the full moon ritual.


    No Transcendent could be all things to all people. Even the full moon ritual would not tolerate opportunism.


    One had to dere the three Paths they liked the least before seeing their allies and enemies, signaling their resolve.


    In this ritual, he could not coborate with allies from these three Paths. Even if they were all powerful, he could not covertly switch allegiances.


    These three Paths were carefully selected by Aiwass.


    The Path of Adaptation, although adept at survival, would surely betray a teammate at a critical moment, exemplifying its penchant for self-preservation and flight.


    And the Path of Dusk and the Path of Love simply had too many entrics.


    ¡ªThe so-called Path of Love was nothing more than a euphemism.


    It rted to barbarism, bestiality, impulse, venerating the basic animal desires of reproduction and feeding.


    ```


    What kind of people are inside?


    Lustful critics, gourmets, welfare princesses, big eaters... None of them seem serious. But they are quite suitable for the modern inte environment.


    And the Path of Dusk speaks of "The Sun will eventually set, all things will eventually perish," which is the path of resisting death and disappearance, and pursuing immortality and permanence.


    Morticians, specimen artisans, gravekeepers, including painters and sculptors who create portraits and statues of the deceased, might all believe in the Path of Dusk. Making mummies and wax figures are also skills of the Path of Dusk, as well as summoning the undead and reincarnation.


    It is not easy to find excellent teammates in these three paths.


    As Aiwass read the names of these three Pir Gods in session, a gust of wind suddenly rose in the room.


    On top of the three pieces of food that Aiwass didn''t like, suddenly mes of three different colors ignited.


    They were ck, emerald, and amber respectively.


    They quickly burnt to ashes in the fire, turning into a stream of ck smoke.


    But what''s odd is¡ªdespite the strange whirlwind in the room, swirling around Aiwass continuously, the green smoke that wafted up after the herb stick ignited the three foods rose straight up, converging into a wisp of smoke as thick as a wrist, directly reaching the white crystal pendant hanging below the chandelier above.


    Following that, Aiwass began to circle the Ritual Array with the herb stick in hand, outside the array, bending over in circles, fumigating the outer ring of the Ritual Array.


    "Six guide me¡­"


    He pointed the herb stick towards the six silver ornaments, chanting the names of the remaining six Pir Gods:


    "Hourss. Candle Master. Great Sage. Silver-Crowned Dragon. Gemini Mirror. Serpent Father."


    As he pointed to them in turn, the six silver ornaments gradually turned ck.


    Not as if they were soiled, but as if they had touched some poison. It was as if they were extracting something harmful from the surrounding air.


    And the whirlwind in the room suddenly intensified¡ªevery lit candle in Aiwass''s room was extinguished by the wind, yet nothing was blown down, not even a piece of light paper.


    "I pursue the path of the Candle Master."


    The next moment, the herb stick in Aiwass''s hand suddenly burst.


    He let go, tossing it into the very center of the hexagram. It crackled loudly, emitting a beautiful stream of pure white smoke. Once more, it covered the white crystal pendant hanging above, which was already ckened by the previous smoke.


    ¡ªThe ritual was a sess.


    Seeing that his "Basic Ritual" progress suddenly increased by 20%, Aiwass finally let out a sigh of relief, confirming that the ritual had been sessful.


    He took down the white crystal pendant hanging from the chandelier and wore it close to his body.


    Although he knew the ritual was simple, it was Aiwass''s first time advancing through a ritual.


    All the previous ones were in the cloud; this was the first he truly handled.


    When Aiwass put on the pendant, he felt a faint sense of tranquility and drowsiness.


    Not strong, resisted easily with willpower.


    It was roughly like the sleepiness after a full meal, or the effect of taking mtonin before bed.


    But Aiwass didn''t resist, and instead, he sat in his wheelchair. He closed his eyes to sense that dragging sensation.


    It was like slowly sinking into the dark depths of the sea, his consciousness clearly being dragged into a deeperyer by some force while he was still awake.


    "Good evening, Priest."


    As Aiwass awoke once more, a familiar cold voice rang out.


    He opened his eyes and found himself in a pitch-ck space. Even though there was no source of light here, he could see everything clearly.


    He was seated in arge, broad armchair. Aiwass was over one meter eighty tall, but even he couldn''t fully fill this chair. When he rested his elbow on one armrest, his other arm couldn''t reach the other side.


    Looking up, he found there were eight more chairs like his.


    Nine chairs were arranged in a circle, and at the very center was a huge stone hourss statue. It was about five or six meters tall, like thoserge ornaments found in shopping malls.


    Aiwass realized he was the fourth to arrive.


    Before him, three others were already present.


    The four of them sat side by side. The first was an old man with a bowed head, holding onto a walking stick. The second was a young man wearing a brown double-breasted overcoat and a top hat.


    The third was dressed rather awkwardly¡ªa fully enclosed knight''s helmet on his head, yet wearing a shirt and sweater for easier movement.


    Even though Aiwass couldn''t see their faces clearly, as one cannot recognize faces in a dream, he could immediately tell that the second one must be Sherlock!


    Because his ent was so distinctive, and the outfit was without any disguise.


    It was as if he was saying¡ªyes, I am Sherlock Hermes.


    ```

 Chapter 55: 33 Code name: Fox

    Sherlock clearly did not recognize Aiwass.


    But seeing Aiwass staring at him, he chuckled with interest and said, "I guess you have recognized me."


    "Your outfit... I think you''re a student from the Royal Legal Academy Theological Seminary, right?"


    "How did you know I''m from Avalon?"


    Aiwass retorted, "Mr. Sherlock Hermes?"


    Of course, there was no need to hide his identity. Or rather, there was no need for this identity to be hidden. But at the same time, there was no need to actively expose it either.


    "To speak of details, one could tell a lot, but saying these would seem pretentious. Because the real reason is¡ªwe have also just arrived not long ago, and the ritual has not yet begun to search for people farther away. So, you must be on ss Ind, and most likely in the Red-White Queen District. That outfit of yours indicates you''re either a student from the Theological Seminary or a Priest after graduation.


    "But a Priest after graduating would not have such a low level. So I think you are probably a sophomore preparing for your first advancement."


    Without waiting for Aiwass''s reply, Sherlock slowly added, "I think the two of you must be neers. Just in case... you know, human hearts are unpredictable. My advice is, don''t reveal your real-world identity."


    As he said this, a girl in a white dress suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the chair next to Aiwass. She seemed startled, leaning back in panic before realizing she was leaning on the chair back, which slightly settled her down.


    Aiwass couldn''t see her face either. But based solely on her build and outline, he could tell she was graceful and beautiful.


    He easily deduced that she must be a youngdy from a wealthy family. The ritual was still searching within ss Ind.


    Meanwhile, Sherlock paused, and then continued,


    "...in the Dream Realm, we cannot see each other''s faces, remember each other''s images, and the voices we hear are different from those in reality. However, the ritual will expose one''s Path category and depth, as well as everyone''s unique little tricks. If these pieces of information leak into the real world, they could cause some trouble.


    "For example, illegal Transcendents..."


    At this point, Sherlock nced at the young man with the Knight helmet, "they could be caught by people from the Supervisory Bureau because of this."


    "...Uh."


    Upon hearing this, the helmeted young man smiled awkwardly, "I haven''t joined the Supervisory Bureau yet, Mr. Sherlock¡ªI''ve read your newspaper! You are my idol!"


    "Students from the Royal Legal Academy, out of a hundred people, ny-nine will say this, but what they usually admire about me is not my intelligence and analytical abilities, but more the fact that I often make headlines in the newspaper."


    Sherlock scoffed, his tone t, "The next time you advance, you''ll know¡ªin the Dream Realm, there''s no need to wear your helmet on purpose. Because no one can remember your face. Instead, it''s your naive and impulsive nature that might get recognized by others."


    "...Thank you, Mr. Sherlock."


    The Knight student who had been sharply critiqued did not show any defiance. He only nodded sincerely in agreement.


    "Then, may I ask, how should we address each other?"


    Aiwass interjected in a timely manner.


    By steering the conversation back, he also gave a subtle cushion to Sherlock.


    "¡ªCode names."


    Just then, the first elder suddenly spoke, "You can give yourself a code name and keep using it. Your code name and deeds will also circte in the world of Transcendents... When there''s nothing else to talk about, two Transcendents meeting will usually discuss their experiences in the Dream Realm.


    "But if you have multiple Paths to follow, make sure not to use the same code name."


    "It''s not necessarily so..."


    Sherlock exined, instinctively reaching for his cigar case in his chest pocket only to remember that this was the Dream Realm.


    In the Dream Realm, clothes are just for show¡ªeven pockets do not serve the function of holding things. Only Extraordinary Items crafted with corresponding Mystical Skills can bring some things along. Like Aiwass, who was promoted through the Path of Devotion, he couldn''t use his Phantom Cards.


    "...Like me, my code name is ''Detective''."


    Sherlock replied, "Because on ss Ind, everyone knows who I am. So I also disdain to hide. Just like a clown, ying my solo part, which seems too ridiculous to those in the know.


    "Of course, you neers still remember to pick a code name. Don''t let it slip in reality.


    "...And, the old man missed out on something."


    The young man tapped the armrest, emphasizing, "You can talk about your experiences from the Dream Realm, but don''t go into too much detail. Otherwise, if someone hears a different version of the story from someone else, andpares it with your version, they''ll know who you roughly are. They might even be able to pinpoint your location."


    "You don''t need to remind them of that, Sherlock."


    The elder said indifferently, pausing with his cane, "It''s the kind of mistake they''ll only really remember after they''ve made it themselves once."


    Sherlock''s gaze suddenly focused on the elder''s cane, and he was silent for a while.


    But he did not mention it, nor did he contradict what the elder said.


    He only looked toward the Knight helmet guy and Aiwass, and hardly nced at the youngdy, "Everyone report the Path you are advancing in and the code name you have chosen for yourselves. This is also the foundation for our cooperation... If you are willing, you can also mention your Extraordinary Profession. But you don''t have to tell the truth, and you don''t have to believe everything others say.


    "Let''s start with me¡ªI''m the ''Detective,'' and my Path is ''Wisdom''."


    "I am... uh, just call me ''Knight''."


    The young Knight sighed helplessly and touched his helmet, "I''m already wearing it, so not going by that name would just seem like I care too much about this matter. My profession is a ''Light Cavalry'' of the Path of Authority, preparing to advance to ''Sky Cavalry''."


    "Obviously, I am a Priest. Blessed by the grace of the Candle Master, I walk the Path of Devotion."


    Aiwass, following suit, said with a smile, "You can call me ''Fox''."


    Soon it was the girl''s turn.


    She was a bit nervous and cleared her throat.


    "Hello, seniors. I am a ''Prodigy'' of the Path of Beauty, with the codename ''Lulu''... is that okay?"


    She said it somewhat tentatively, uncertain if her codename would be epted.


    The others showed no response, with only Aiwass nodding gently toward her.


    "Hello, Lulu."


    "...Hello, Mr. Fox,"


    Lulu whispered.


    So that''s it, the codenamees from "Lulu''s Magic Flute"...


    Aiwass mused in his mind.


    "Prodigy"...


    That is a rare profession on the Path of Beauty. One must showcase at least five artistic talents to be appointed.


    The girl had no idea that her real-world identity had already been revealed quite a bit. Just by cross-referencing who enjoyed the opera "Lulu''s Magic Flute," the puzzle was practically solved.


    Tsk, tsk, tsk.


    While they were introducing themselves, the other four individuals also emerged one after another.


    Eagerly, Aiwass recapped Sherlock''s pointers for them and repeated the codenames and paths from "Detective" to "Lulu."


    Thus, the remaining four also proceeded to introduce themselves:


    "I am Basil, of the Path of Adaptation." This was a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her thirties.


    "I am Cheese of the Path of Love! Because I love to eat cheese!"


    The speaker was a little girl who appeared to be only eight or nine years old.


    She was obviously not from Avalon, as in the Kingdom of Avalon, it was not allowed for someone of her age to be a Transcendent.


    "I am King of the Path of Bnce, a ''Botanist.''"


    A somewhat disheveled middle-aged man hurriedly replied, "If you need alchemical incense or essential oils, you can buy them from me, I''ll give a 10% discount off market prices for brothers and sisters! I can deliver within a twenty-kilometer radius of Mainz! Custom potions are avable too... as long as I can make it, you''ll receive it within twenty days of paying a deposit!"


    Aiwass narrowed his eyes slightly.


    He remembered that Mainz was a city in the Kingdom of Star Antimony... which made sense, as Star Antimony was a nation founded on Alchemy. Even their country name stemmed from alchemical terms.


    "Ie from the Path of Transcendence, but I am not a Demon Schr."


    A gentle-voiced young woman in her twenties said, "You can call me ''Coco''."


    Simrly, she did not disclose her profession.


    At that moment, everyone turned their gaze to the old man.


    "Isn''t it obvious?"


    The elder paused, leaning on his cane, "There''s only the Path of Dusk left.


    "You can call me ''Bone Sculptor''... it''s sort of a hobby of mine."


    Upon hearing this, Lulu seemed to have something she wanted to say.


    But just then, the stone hourss suddenly regained its color. Emitting a brilliant golden glow, a ring of beautiful rainbow light burst forth like a halo.


    [Sorry, everyone, I''mte.]


    A resonant female voice suddenly filled the vast dark space.


    [Have you all finished introducing yourselves? Then it''s my turn.]


    [I will be overseeing the ritual, I am an envoy of Lord Hourss... you may call me Erinys.]


    In the next moment, the dark world turned bright.

 Chapter 56: 34: Another Possibility of History

    After Erinys spoke, the dark, lightless space immediately gained shape and color.


    It was a scene utterly familiar to Aiwass¡ª


    This ce was located at the intersection of Lohar District and White Queen District, known as Judiciary Square. It was where he passed by on his way to the Pelican Bar.


    He looked up to see the setting sun obliquely hanging in the sky, with thick clouds above. The dim yellow light spilled onto the gloomy streets, carrying the moist premonition of an impending storm.


    But Aiwass quickly realized something was amiss.


    Despite being a bustling area, there was not a single person on the streets. There was a deathly stillness.


    This was no illusion.


    Because at this moment, time stood still.


    The nine of them sat squarely in the middle of the main road, surrounding an illuminated hourss.


    Aiwass noted that only the old man and Sherlock appearedpletely unaffected by this. The rest, including himself, seemed more or less surprised.


    In the face of this sudden situation, everyone adopted a cautious demeanor. In the instant that everyone opted for silence, the atmosphere became silent as well.


    "Angel Envoy¡­ are they the legendary angels?"


    After merely a second or two, Cheese was the first to break the silence.


    She muttered softly, her voice filled with childish hope and yearning, "Is it an angel sister who will help us advance?"


    "¡ªI''m afraid not."


    Sherlock ndly interrupted the girl''s fanciful thoughts and calmly exined, "The nature of an Angel Envoy is actually that of a Phantom Demon. They simply choose to obey the Nine Pir Gods and assist them in responding to various rituals."


    "¡­they''re essentially the servants who do the minor tasks for the Nine Pir Gods."


    Coco''s gentle voice chimed in from the side, softly borating, "There''s no need to fear¡­ they are only responsible for guiding us in holding the ritual, not for specific judgment or deciding the content of the ritual.


    "The formal name of the advancement ceremony is ''Nine Pir Gods Ritual,'' which is a ceremony to call upon theing of the Nine Pir Gods. Theoretically, it should summon all nine Pir Gods. But there are simply too many low-tier Transcendents like us, and the Pir Gods don''t have time to watch us¡­ so they send Angel Envoys instead.


    "At least one Angel Envoy must be sent from the nine Pir Gods. Because we are too weak now, we can only attract one Angel Envoy¡­ Only after the Honorable Apostle arrives can the ritual be established."


    "You also needn''t worry too much about the Angel Envoy."


    Suddenly, Sherlock spoke up, "Lady Eleni is an apostle of the Path of Bnce and values fairness greatly. But not every advancement will happen to encounter the hourss''s apostle¡ªif youe across an envoy from the Path of Love, Path of Wisdom, Path of Authority, or Path of Transcendence presiding over the ritual, there is a good chance they may show favoritism or deceive the participants.


    "But in reality, the most influential factor is the preferences and biases of the ceremony''spiler¡­ which is to say, the tastes and inclinations of the Pir God."


    The hourss referred to here is another name for the hourss, the symbol of the Path of Bnce. It is also the emblem stamped on Avalon copper coins.


    Each nation has different taboo Paths. Generally speaking, this refers to the opposed paths of mainstream thought, followed by political reasons.


    For instance, the Star Antimony Kingdom mainly promotes the Path of Transcendence, Path of Dusk, and Path of Bnce, while the mainstream ideologies of the Iris Kingdom are the Path of Beauty and Path of Love. These kingdoms are adjacent to Avalon and don''t have particrly good rtions with each other.


    Considering cultural invasion and the infiltration of spies and such issues, the paths between these three nations are mutually opposed.


    ¡ªBut even so, under the premise that the Star Antimony Kingdom builds its nation on Alchemy, both Avalon and the Iris Kingdom still have not prohibited the Path of Bnce.


    On one hand, technology and alchemy indeed cannot be neglected, and on the other hand, it''s because the Path of Bnce inherently emphasizes fairness, neutrality, and absence of borders¡ªthis consistent principle of "fairness" is top-down.


    "Generally speaking," Sherlock nced at the always silent old man and paused before speaking again, "hosts also have their personal likes and dislikes¡ªafter all, if theyck defined will, personality, and memory, they can''t be considered genuine Phantom Demons.


    "For this reason, the hosts may choose to slightly favor Transcendents of their own path or to add troubles to the paths they dislike."


    Upon hearing these words, the glowing hourss finally spoke:


    "Don''t worry too much, everyone,"


    "After all, this ceremony is theoretically under the joint attention of the Nine Pir Gods, so it won''t be too harsh,"


    "We are neither the graders nor the exam setters, just invigtors. Our role is to witness the ceremony and ensure no one cheats. Trying to tter us is useless. Even verbal attacks don''t matter¡ªof course, while I don''t mind, the zealous ''Detective'' here is correct, and I also do not advise attacking the envoys of other paths,"


    Lady Eleni''s voice was gentle, and she neither interrupted Sherlock nor offered any rebuttals. Clearly, she was of a very good-natured disposition.


    "Now, everyone, as per tradition¡ªin your first advancement ceremony, I shall exin the proceedings to you,"


    "Three of the advancers this time possess multiple paths, but please note: during the advancement ceremony, only abilities from the advancing path and extraordinary items handmade by yourself and corresponding to your path may be used,"


    "¡ªEverything you encounter in the Dream Realm is rted to but distinct from the Material Realm''s true history,"


    "Perhaps a ritual calling upon a higher being, an assassination targeting a significant figure, or a local war could change the world. Or maybe the world has already been changed, and no one remembers the original history,"


    "During the advancement ceremony, you will witness ''another historical possibility'' as spected by the Nine Pir Gods,"


    "Each dreand you use for advancement will be used only once, and its content is fictional, different from reality''s development,"


    "Therefore, you must also solve mysteries, search for items, defeat enemies, or simply survive under the watch of the Nine Pir Gods, proving your abilities,"


    "This ceremony is limited to four hours, with a one-to-one ratio to real time,"


    "You will role-y as a certain character in the field andplete your tasks, gaining corresponding points for each objective aplished,"


    "Since the ceremony is a full moon ceremony, cooperation is allowed, and cooperative points will be calcted: the coborator will receive an additional 10%-50% of the points earned by the person assisted, depending on effort and benefit,"


    "However, you may not cooperate with the envoys of an opposing path you''ve chosen for this ceremony, or you will lose 50%-100% of the points earned by the person you helped,"


    "Note: Helping the opposing path without knowing their identity still results in a penalty; but if you do not recognize and directly state the correct identity of the coborative path, the helping behavior will not earn you any points. After the ceremony, the three with the lowest points will be eliminated,"


    "During this ceremony, all sapient beings apart from the participantsckplete intelligence and souls, all created by ''Amber'', so actions such as killing, healing, sacrifice, etc., will not trigger oaths, taboos, agreements, or curses,"


    "The difficulty level for this ceremony is ''Safe''; any injuries or deaths in the ceremony will not affect the health of your body in the Material Realm, and failure to advance will not cause weakness or harm to the soul,"


    "Further disimer: the dreamscape for this ceremony is constructed by ''Amber,'' and task and role assignments, as well as bonus and penalty rules, are the responsibility of ''Lord of Scalefeather.'' It ispletely unrted to the witness of the ceremony¡ªthat is, me,"


    Eleni said all this in one breath, not stopping until she finished the disimer, finally pausing briefly.


    "Does anyone have any questions? The next time you advance, the new host won''t tell you this much,"


    No one made a sound, akin to the atmosphere when a teacher asks, "Has anyone not understood?" in a ssroom, silent as a graveyard.


    And Eleni was not surprised by this.


    She added, in the spirit of friendship:


    "This ceremony is simple and not lengthy, so don''t be nervous or feelpelled to find teammates. If you have any questions, you can ask your guide after you wake up,"


    "Remember, everything you see in this ceremony is fictional. Do not regard anything you see here as actually having happened in history¡ª"


    As she spoke, the sand in the hourss had just finished falling.


    As the hourss slowly inverted, Angel Envoy Eleni uttered herst sentence:


    "In the year 1884, in the capital of the Kingdom of Avalon, a terrifyin series of serial killings took ce..."


    And when the hoursspletely flipped over, Aiwass suddenly felt a strong dizziness.


    The world before his eyes froze, but the nine people sitting in the chairs vanished without a trace like ripples on the water.

 Chapter 57: 35: You must play the part too, right?

    Aiwass awoke to find himself in an all too familiar ce.


    This was the Cathedral of Candle Master in the Red Queen District.


    It wasn''t St. Genvieve Chapel, where he hadst learned the Sacred Arts, but the bustling main hall.


    And he was not the one presiding over the ceremony but sitting in the back row, praying quietly.


    Aiwass looked down discreetly and discovered that his attire was virtually unchanged from before he entered the instance.


    He was still dressed in a white priest''s robe, and he wasn''t even wearing a mitre on his head.


    Could it be that he was a newly appointed priest?


    ...Strange, who am I?


    As Aiwass wondered, a voice suddenly rang in his head as grating and unpleasant as nails on a ckboard:


    "You are Priest Julio Alexander, twenty-seven years old.


    "Your niece Lisa was murdered a month ago, but the Supervisory Bureau was unable to find the killer.


    "A month after the incident, you received a letter stating that you ''did not do as they said'' and threatening to kill your son, Aiwass Alexander ¡ª specifically today.


    "Fortunately, you are a student of Bishop Samuel Mathers, so today you came to seek refuge at the Cathedral of Candle Master with your wife and child..."


    The next moment, several lines of text appeared before Aiwass.


    [Essential Mission¡ª¡ª]


    [Continue to impersonate Priest Julio Alexander without being exposed or unmasked by anyone outside your teammates (Points: 100)]


    [Within four hours, ensure the survival of your son, Aiwass Alexander (Points: 500)]


    [Additional Missions¡ª¡ª]


    [Survive Yourself: Ensure your own survival (Points: 100)]


    [The Heart is the Sanctuary: Choose not to hide in the Cathedral of Candle Master but to go to Judiciary Square proactively (Points: 100)]


    [Inalterable Nature: Heal those fated to die (Points: 100 per person, up to a maximum of 300)]


    [A Permanent Solution: Find, capture, or kill the killer (Points: up to 500)]


    [My Beloved Jasmine: Ensure the survival of your wife, Annie Alexander (Points: 500)]


    [Live Longer: Try to survive the longest among the nine ritualists, or at least dieter (Points: up to 500)]


    [The Beginning of Everything: Find the mastermind (Points: up to 1000)]


    Upon seeing all this, Aiwass''s pupils suddenly constricted.


    He abruptly realized something. Even his breathing paused for a moment.


    He turned his head and saw his "wife" sitting beside him.


    She had tinum-blonde hair that draped over her shoulders, her figure dignified and elegant, garbed in a pearl-colored silk dress. Her face was that of gentle intellect and beauty, but now it was worn with fatigue and haggardness as she cradled her child in her arms, eyes closed in prayer.


    And the boy in her arms had tinum-blonde hair as well.


    Being so young, his hair was still sparse and fine, like the fluffy down of a kitten or a puppy.


    He clearly did not understand what he was about to face, sitting quietly in his mother''s arms with his ocean-blue pupils staring nkly ahead.


    Seeing that "Aiwass" was looking at him, the boy opened his eyes wide and reciprocated the gaze.


    "Daddy..."


    He lowered his voice, and with a milky tone whispered, "You''re daydreaming, daddy. You can''t daydream... you said so."


    Aiwass felt somewhat shaken. He merely nodded hastily without responding to Little Aiwass and bowed his head to continue praying.


    Only then did he trulye to his senses.


    The year 1884...


    ¡ªIsn''t that 14 years ago?


    Aiwass was eighteen years old this year; fourteen years ago would have been when he was four, the year both his parents died.


    He was far too young at the time to remember why his parents died.


    He didn''t even recall their faces, let alone their names. But in his vague and blurry memory, there did seem to be such a scene...


    He sat in his mother''s arms, facing many dark silhouettes towering like great trees. People were chanting something, and he felt a little feverish, dizzy, and nauseated...


    Julio...


    Is that my father''s name?


    So my mother''s name is Annie... and I had a cousin or sister named Lisa.


    Then, they were all murdered.


    ¡ªThat voice said, "did not do as they said," what did they say?


    Why did they choose not to kill "Julio" but to kill "Aiwass"? Yet in the real history, Aiwass was unaffected, and it was Julio and Annie who died¡ªwhat''s different here?


    Despite the Angel Envoy''s repeated emphasis that the content of the ritual was all fictitious... Aiwass couldn''t help but find it all eerily familiar.


    For a moment, he was unable to clearly distinguish which memories were real and which were fictitious.


    First, he needed to confirm... whether his blurred memories were urate.


    Thinking this, Aiwass turned back, opened his eyes to look at Little Aiwass, and asked softly:


    "... Aiwass, does your head hurt?"


    "A little, daddy..."


    The little boy responded obediently.


    ```


    "What?"


    At those words, his mother, Annie, was suddenly startled, her emerald pupils dting as she quickly reached out to cover little Aiwass''s forehead and rebuked him in a low voice, "Why didn''t you say so earlier?"


    "What''s wrong?"


    Aiwass immediately leaned in closer.


    Annie frowned deeply and tried the back of her own forehead.


    She said hesitantly, "It seems... a bit hot. But I''m not sure..."


    "It''s okay, let me do it."


    Aiwass said soothingly, taking the younger version of himself from Annie''s arms into his own.


    He stretched out his hand and pressed it on little Aiwass''s heart.


    ¡ª¡ªArt of Illumination.


    The next moment, a soft, water-like glow seeped out from the palm of his hand. A warm strength poured continuously into "little Aiwass."


    Fortunately, they were sitting in the back row, not disturbing anyone else.


    The instant he employed the Art of Illumination, Aiwass realized... the mana pool he was using now was not his father "Giulio''s," but his own.


    A priest should have at leastpleted the first advancement. It''s impossible to have only this pitiful seven points of light mana.


    He had infused a whole mana point before he stopped his Art of Illumination.


    Aiwass''s mood became heavier.


    Because he did not feel any trace of illness in "little Aiwass."


    If it were someone else, they might think this was just little Aiwass''s imagination, or that the child didn''t want to stay here and was making things up.


    But because it was Aiwass, he knew "little Aiwass" not only wasn''t talking nonsense... he was actually being quite conservative.


    He remembered.


    At the time, his head was dizzy and heavy as if there was something solid inside banging against his skull. His whole body was ufortably hot, his breath difficult, even the air he exhaled felt like it could scorch his nasal passages. It was like being sick with a fever, wrapped tightly in nkets, rolled into a solid cocoon, with every heartbeat clear and able to shake all the way to his fingertips.


    However, little Aiwass was a very strong child.


    He perceived the anxiousness in his parents'' hearts, so he didn''t speak of his troubles and silently endured instead.


    Latter, the younger Aiwass gradually lost consciousness.


    Seeing this familiar scene, Aiwass''s memories in his brain were being slowly filled in.


    More and more details became clear:


    He realized that the problem his "son" was facing was definitely not simple. To directly faint and lose consciousness, that was a condition that could potentially be fatal.


    But then again, he really did not detect any illness from little Aiwass...


    "It''s not an illness?"


    His wife, Annie, upon seeing this, furrowed her brows with worry.


    She looked at her child, not knowing what to do.


    She just sat restlessly closer, thinking hard with knit brows, and suggested a possibility: "I am wondering... is there a possibility that the person who sent you the threatening letter used a curse?"


    Upon hearing this.


    Aiwass''s movement suddenly paused.


    He looked deeply toward his wife "Annie."


    ¡ª¡ªHer point of view and stance when she said this were clearly off.


    Aiwass held little Aiwass closer within his arms, letting the boy''s face bury into his chest.


    Then, Aiwass turned toward "Annie" and whispered in her ear.


    He opened his mouth and spoke softly, word by word, "I think... it''s ''Lulu'', right?"


    Seeing Annie''s emerald pupils suddenly be frantic, her whole body stiffened in an instant, legs mping together, sitting upright, and her body subconsciously shifted away from Aiwass.


    Aiwass couldn''t help but sigh, feeling a pang of regret as if he''d been bullying a child.


    ...Too easy to guess.


    It''s obvious that you''ve never been a mother before.


    Too many loopholes... aren''t you the "Prodigy" of the Path of Beauty? Doesn''t a prodigy learn acting?


    But then again.


    It was exactly because he easily pulled out "Lulu" from right beside him that he truly realized the ritual had begun.


    So he immediately perked up.


    Aiwass did not want to reveal that the child in his arms was his younger self. Thus, he did not show even a hint of the anxiety and concern in his heart, but instead revealed a confident andposed, gentle smile.


    He used a little force to pull back "Annie," who was subconsciously leaning back to avoid Aiwass, back to his side.


    "Don''t move around. If I''m not mistaken, part of your task includes ''acting,'' right... You are now my wife."


    His deep and maic voice sounded word for word in the ear of the startled "Annie":


    "Don''t be afraid, I am ''Fox''.


    "I think you certainly didn''t choose to abandon ''Dedication,'' right? I will protect you. That''s exactly my task."


    ...One of them.


    Aiwass silently added in his heart.


    ```


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 58: 36 You Are Now My Wife

    Hearing Aiwass''s words, "Lulu''s" body visibly rxed a great deal.


    "...Mr. Fox!"


    She softly called out Aiwass''s codename, but the moment she spoke, she hesitated again, "Are you really... Mr. Fox?"


    For some reason, she sensed a faint sense of danger emanating from him.


    It was as if she was about to be deceived or poisoned... yet she detected no malice or intent to kill.


    "I''ve just used Illumination Art. I think that''s proof enough of my identity."


    "Ah, you''re right..."


    After calming down, Lulu quickly realized how foolish her question had been¡ªit made her feel ashamed and regretful.


    She was ashamed because she felt too nervous and likely couldn''t be of much help, possibly even hindering herpanions; she felt regret because such a simple deduction should have easily urred to her normally, but now her mind felt nk.


    "¡ªShh."


    Suddenly, Aiwass ced a finger to the lips of "his wife."


    The unexpected physical contact from the opposite sex made her eyes widen, and the tinum-haireddy''s gaze showed the innocence and shyness of a young girl.


    Only then did she dare to look directly at her "husband," the father of her child, for the first time.


    Never mind the opposite sex, she rarely even had friends of the same sex in her daily life. People might not fear her because of her status, but they would surely keep their distance because of her troublesome state, being close to the decline of the royal lineage and the possibility of being cursed to death at any moment¡ªno one wants trouble, especially trouble they cannot afford.


    She had not dared to look at him before because they were too close.


    Lulu didn''t even know what she looked like at this moment... but the young man in front of her with ck curls and deep blue eyes reminiscent of the ocean was at most in his twenties, certainly young and handsome. His priest''s robe gave him an aura of chaste reassurance and solemnity.


    In that instant, Lulu subconsciously wanted to paint him.


    It was not out of any special affection.


    It was simply because her "aesthetic vision" sensed the inspiration of this moment¡ª


    Dressed in white priestly garb, the gold-rose embroidered cor stood tall, hiding his Adam''s apple. A single strong arm effortlessly cradled a four-year-old child, while the other hand reached out, gesturing in front of her lips. The Cathedral of Candle Master provided the lighting around him... it was a dim yet brilliant paradoxical light. With profound features like those of a Mycenaean sculpture, his deep blue eyes reflected the mes rising from the candlestick behind Lulu, sparkling with the red brilliance of ocean-blue sapphires against the me.


    The man''s face bore apassionate solemnity, yet Lulu vaguely sensed a casual "mockery," much like his codename "Fox," suggesting inscrutability. But at the same time, she could feel no hostility from him, instead, a purely kind intention, and the strong sense of security thates from a reliable adult male.


    Watching Lulu suddenly fall silent, Aiwass said nothing more, simply ncing towards the front of the cathedral.


    Following his gaze, Lulu realized her voice might have been too loud.


    "...I''m sorry, Mr. Fox."


    She was somewhat annoyed with herself, "I can''t do anything right..."


    "How could that be?"


    Aiwass said casually.


    If you did everything right, I wouldn''t feel at ease.


    Just be willing to follow orders.


    The rest is mine to handle.


    Lulu saw the man in front of her withdraw his right hand, gently stroking the back of their child''s head. Once more, warm light spilled from between his fingers, with his fingertips seeming to light up with a golden outline. It was like golden sunlight passing through the stained-ss sculptures in the Hall of Silver and Tin, casting a circle of light on the wall full of runes.


    It was not blinding, nor dazzling.


    His fingertips pierced by that light seemed to be transparent, giving off a reddish-golden glow. It was like the setting sun about to go down, or the rising sun about to ascend.


    This color... the color of "Illumination," I''ve remembered it.


    "¡ªIt''s done."


    As she was entranced, Aiwass suddenly said in a soft voice, "The curse has been dispelled by me."


    "So powerful... wait, wait, the Illumination Art used by your right hand?"


    Only then did Lulu realize something, "Have you already be so proficient?"


    Being able to use Illumination Art with the right hand for ten seconds without interruption, steadily outputting two units of mana, is one of the graduation requirements of the Theological Seminary at the Royal Law Academy. The right hand is by nature more attuned to Darkness, and the output of Light attribute mana could be interrupted at any absent-minded moment.


    In church work, not all situations permit the use of the left hand for casting spells. There are special circumstances where the left hand cannot be used, and it is in these moments that the proficiency of casting spells with the right hand is tested.


    The man in front of her had even used Illumination Art with his right hand for fifteen seconds in a row, effortlessly. The Light did not extinguish nor dim even once, nor did he show any signs of strain or fatigue.


    This was a continuous output of no less than three standard units of mana...


    "...so Mr. Fox, you''ve actually already graduated, haven''t you?"


    She lowered her voice and leaned in to press further, "Have you joined the church yet?"


    For some reason, the tension had vanished. In its ce were curiosity and frustration.


    Her own first semester of sophomore year was more than halfway over, and she hadn''tpleted her advancement... yet this possible "senior" had already achieved a standard that was difficult even for graduates to reach.


    I''m so weak...


    "It''s nothing."


    Aiwass spoke indifferently.


    He really didn''t see anything wrong with it. Although Bishop Mathers had reminded him when teaching the Sacred Arts, to mainly use his left hand until he could cast spells with his right hand effortlessly and without the need for focused visualization.


    But Aiwass had managed to sessfully cast a spell with his right hand and treat Yulia that very day¡ªhe hadn''t even realized he was using his right hand, just instinctively extending his usual hand.


    "It wasn''t aplicated curse. Rather than intending to kill someone... it''s more of a tracker. Now that I''ve destroyed the curse, it might stall the enemy for a while.


    "Also," Aiwass extended a finger, flicking a glow towards Lulu''s eyes which startled her into closing them, then he added nonchntly, "Don''t ask about real-life matters. Otherwise, don''t me me foring after you."


    "...I''m sorry."


    Lulu nodded her head apologetically.


    "I forgive you."


    Aiwass smiled amiably as he spoke.


    The worship service was drawing to a close, and he naturally took Lulu''s hand in his. Lulu''s fingers shrank back in fright for an instant, but quickly recalling the requirements of her mission, she pretended to grip his hand naturally.


    Aiwass, taking an inch and wanting a mile, intertwined his fingers with hers. He then pulled her up directly from the bench.


    As if leading a partner in a social dance.


    "Don''t be so stiff, and don''t be afraid."


    Aiwass saidposedly, "You are now my wife."


    "...Yes, that''s right."


    He carried the child and took Lulu''s hand as they left the main hall of the Cathedral of Candle Master. However, he did not leave the cathedral. Instead, he found a small, unupied chapel and led his "wife" inside.


    The moment he closed the door, Lulu felt her heart stop for a beat.


    She suddenly opened her eyes wide.


    ...What is he going to do?


    "Come, hold the child."


    Aiwass''s voice was low and gentle as he passed the baby boy into her arms.


    Lulu instinctively, and very cautiously, took "Little Aiwass" into her arms.


    "Little Aiwass," weary from having the curse lifted, now seemed tired. Just like taking a hot bath when exhausted. As the difort ebbed away, the sense of sleepiness and security flooded his consciousness.


    He had been curled up in his father''s fragrant arms, warm with scents of musk, sandalwood, and vani, listening to the long-winded worship. His eyes briefly opened only to close for much longer periods.


    When handed over from his father to his mother, he momentarily awoke.


    "There, good child..."


    Lulu looked at the child''s tender and lovely face, unable to resist a sincere, faint smile.


    She spoke softly, holding the baby boy who still smelled of milk in her arms.


    She had taken care of her own younger brother before, so she knew how to hold a baby. But even so, Lulu held him very carefully... as if she were holding someone else''s child, fearing identally letting him slip and fall.


    "Practice a bit for now. It won''t do to go out on the street like this. People will think the baby is snatched by you."


    Aiwass''s hands were in his pockets as he leaned against the door, tilting his head with one ear pressed against it. His eyes half-closed as if he were napping.


    At the same time, he opened his mouth to ask softly, "Do you know how to sing a luby, Lulu?"


    "I do."


    This time Lulu''s reply was firm, filled with confidence.


    "First, lull the child to sleep, then we''ll leave," Aiwass added. "Let the child sleep soundly... use all your strength."

 Chapter 59: 37 s Full Automatic Unboxing Machine

    Aiwass had to admit that he''d underestimated "Lulu" a little.


    ...His temporary teammate wasn''t as bad as he''d thought.


    After taking a brief breath, "Annie Alexander" by the window let out a sound as ethereal as crystal.


    It was still morning, and the sun had just risen.


    But her singing immediately made Aiwass think of a summer evening''s breeze passing through the window, gently brushing the wind chimes. His heart was filled with carefree bliss, and the anxiety that had yet to surface was firmly soothed.


    It was like sshing clear water on a bonfire to douse the mes.


    Aiwass slowly closed his eyes, gradually rxing his mind...


    "¡ªOkay, Mr. Fox."


    Lulu''s voice came through, snapping Aiwass, who had kept his guard up by the door and listening to the movement outside, back to alertness as he instantly opened his eyes.


    "Hmm. Good job."


    "No problem; it was easy. Even if we have to run with him in our arms, he won''t wake up for the next two hours."


    The beautiful woman with tinum blonde hair had a confident glimmer in her eye as she earnestly said, "Unless he is directly hit by a bullet, even if he falls to the ground, he absolutely will not wake up."


    ...Do you want me to praise you?


    Such a child.


    Miss Lulu must be quite young.


    That''s what Aiwass was thinking.


    He nodded slightly and praised, "You did very well, Lulu. Thanks to you¡ªwe''ve had troublemunicating openly with the child awake. Previously, little Aiwass didn''t hear our exchange while he was sleeping. After he woke, we whispered... but outside, we cannot keepmunicating like this."


    "Even though he''s just a child, if the doubts in his heart umte slowly, he might eventually identify the ws we are pretending to y¡ª and once recognized, we would likely be immediately defeated."


    Aiwass spoke calmly.


    His expression remained unchanged, still exuding a kind of confidence in his grasp.


    But inside, Aiwass couldn''t help breaking out in a cold sweat.


    ¡ªHe was so close, Aiwass nearly fell asleep himself.


    Even with him voluntarily rxing his mind... The effect of Lulu''s song was so good that he was taken aback.


    Her voice was incredibly clear and transparent, with a crystalline ethereality. Even though it came from "Annie''s" body, it hadn''t diminished much.


    ...Such strong fundamentals?


    Are you really from Avalon?


    At this thought, something stirred in Aiwass''s mind.


    The young girls from Avalon who have mastered the Path of Beauty...


    ¡ªCould "Lulu" be Princess Isabel?


    He recalled that Isabel too had mastery over the Path of Beauty, and it was not weak. In the game''s "Autumn of Cruelty" event, it was she who, along with Aiwass, apanied the yer characters in their flight to the Eternal Theocracy, bing a member of the main cast.


    However, whether she was the princess or not didn''t really affect Aiwass''s n.


    Rather, if she really was... Aiwass might find flirting with her even more invigorating.


    ¡ªIt''s simple.


    Let''s just test the waters a bit.


    "...What an incredible voice," Aiwass showed a sincerely admiring smile, genuinely praising, "Even if you weren''t a Transcendent, you could surely be a continentally famous opera singer."


    "Isn''t that so!"


    Lulu''s eyes suddenly lit up, revealing the pure and delighted smile of someone praised by a person they respected: "More than painting or sculpting, I actually prefer singing and dancing..."


    "Speaking of which," Aiwass spoke as if something came to mind, "''Lulu''... is that name taken from the opera ''Lulu''s Magic Flute''?"


    "Mr. Fox has heard of it too?"


    Lulu said excitedly.


    "It''s an extraordinary opera."


    Aiwass affirmed, praising from his heart.


    It was indeed extraordinary¡ªthis opera contained four spells of the Path of Beauty, which only Transcendents with a certain level of artistic insight could perceive andprehend.


    ¡ªEven two of them were essentials for the advanced level thirty profession "Piper," and the level fifty profession "Queen of the Night."


    "Right, right!"


    Lulu spoke happily, her eyes sparkling, beaming: "I was really young when... my grandma took me to see the y, and I could sing it after hearing it just once. It was that part, ''Pa, pa, pa, pa Papageno!'' that part!"


    "Oh, I know," Aiwass nodded, "The part where Papageno and Papagena dance together, right?"


    ¡ªDespite Aiwass''s smooth reply, he actually had never seen it.


    But his screenwriter buddy had told him that "Lulu''s Magic Flute" was based on Mozart''s opera "The Magic Flute" from Earth, with content and tunes essentially the same.


    In this world, its creator wasn''t Mozart; it was a fairy named "Lulu."


    Fairies are small Phantom Demons with a childish heart and wings, usually wind-attuned as demons are often attuned to Darkness.


    Aiwass had seen "The Magic Flute." Of course, he was familiar with some of the scenes... While he definitely couldn''t sing it, he could bluff a little.


    "Mr. Fox is amazing, I thought this opera wasn''t well-known in Avalon!"


    Lulu momentarily forgot about the promotion ceremony, excited by finding a kindred spirit and recognition.


    She sang spontaneously, "[Will you be mine forever? Will I be yours forever! Now you are my wife, now you are my true love...]"

 Chapter 60: Chapter 37 Full Automatic Unboxing Machine_2

    Aiwass immediately felt a joy surge into his heart. A delicate strength, apanied by music, flowed into his heart, and he even felt that his steps had be lighter, his body more bnced¡ªhe even had the confidence that he wouldn''t hurt himself if he jumped down from the third floor.


    This was the "Lively Tune" extraordinary ability of the Path of Beauty. It could grant allies within range a buff that was equivalent to 1% to 300% of the effects of a "Haste Spell" and "Bnced Stance" spell.


    The buff provided in this way started at only a third of its full effect but grew stronger as the singing continued.


    Lulu''s intensity was probably around 10% to 15%, which meant that her singing could provide nearly a 50% continuous enhancement of both spells to everyone. Most importantly, this was an extraordinary ability¡ªthat is, it did not consume mana.


    ¡ªThat''s good enough; this intensity is quite sufficient.


    Aiwass was entirely sure that this girl was none other than Princess Isabel.


    Amon "Prodigy" couldn''t possibly have umted such a strong foundation. Usually, being an all-rounder just meant mediocrity¡ª


    But she really was an all-rounder.


    With her talent and foundation, she might be able to keep pace with Aiwass''s advanced rate of progress.


    The only problem was that the girl was not cautious enough.


    He hadn''t even set a trap or actively tried to lower her guard; she just blurted everything out after he casually asked her.


    She was practically a walking, fully automated box opener.


    ...Hopefully, before she meets Princess Isabel in the Dream Realm again, her tutor will train her acting skills properly.


    You keep doing this, and I''ll feel bad about deceiving you.


    Aiwass never bullied children.


    He stretched out his hand and pressed down slightly, like a conductor of an orchestra, signaling Lulu to quieten down.


    And she indeed instantly stopped her chanting and became quiet.


    "Are you still nervous?"


    Aiwass showed a friendly smile, "Do you feel much better now?"


    "...Yes, thank you!" Lulu had an epiphany.


    So, Mr. Fox realized I was too nervous and intentionally made small talk to ease my mental pressure!


    "¡ªDon''t call me ''you''."


    Aiwass emphasized, "Giulio Alexander, you are Annie. In front of others, you can call me Giulio... or you can call me dear."


    "...I will still call you Giulio."


    Lulu whispered.


    At this point, she suddenly realized something, "Wait, aren''t we going to look for Bishop Mathers?"


    "Hmm, we''re not."


    "Eh... why? I know him, he''s very powerful... He''s the royal tomb keeper; he can definitely protect us."


    "I believe what you say¡ªif you say so, he must be very strong, strong enough to protect us."


    Aiwass first affirmed Lulu''s words, then turned to ask, "So, did you bring a message?"


    "...A message?" Lulu said with less confidence.


    In that instant, she felt as if she might have done something wrong, said something silly, or lost something important...


    "I mean the original of the threat letter."


    "No..."


    "Yes, I don''t have it either. So we don''t know what that person wrote in the letter. At the same time, I also don''t know Bishop Mathers, so it would be difficult to y his student well."


    But I actually have a way to get him to protect us...


    Lulu thought, but swallowed her words back down.


    She still had some vignce after all¡ªspeaking out would be the same as exposing her real identity!


    Mr. Aiwass squinted his eyes like a fox and said leisurely, "You must have the task to ''leave the cathedral'' as well, right?"


    "Yes. It directs me to leave the cathedral voluntarily and go to Judiciary Square," Lulu responded immediately.


    "How many points?"


    "100 points."


    "It''s low. It''s the same for me," Mr. Aiwassmented, "The more difficult and challenging the tasks are, the higher the score. Given how powerful Bishop Mathers is, why is the score so low for leaving the protection of the cathedral he shelters us in and going to a dangerous ce?"


    "...Because he can''t provide us protection?"


    Clutching the child, Lulu''s eyes widened with a sense of incredulity, as if she had been betrayed by someone familiar: "How could this be..."


    "It''s not necessarily a refusal to offer protection; it might also be that he''s simply not there. Or perhaps there''s an emergency that requires us to leave earlier."


    Mr. Aiwass continued calmly, "In that case, finding ourselves empty-handed and pushed out onto the streets... the situation would likely be even worse."


    "Look, there''s no task that deliberately puts us in mortal danger, right? That means these tasks are intended to benefit us in achieving our ultimate goal."


    "...''Once and for all''? Or ''survive longer''?"


    Lulu hesitated a bit, "But you... you are from the Path of Devotion, and I am from the Path of Beauty. Neither of us has muchbat strength."


    A thought struck Mr. Aiwass.


    Does she not have the task ''The Start of Everything''?


    "So, we actually need to leave the cathedral in advance."


    Leaning against the door, Mr. Aiwass exined his n: "To prepare weapons."


    In his n, there was no need to hide anything from the other party¡ª"Lulu" would not be his weapon or consumable; making things clear in advance would not make her vignt; she also wouldn''t talk to others alone, so there was no worry about leaks.


    In this situation, Mr. Aiwass needed to make things crystal clear, be explicit. He had to make her trust him, believe in his n, and understand his purpose.


    Only then would she fullymit to carrying out Mr. Aiwass''s n without suddenly adding her "own ideas."


    Mr. Aiwass knew how to bring along a novice.


    "Weapons... like a gun?"


    Lulu was somewhat worried, "Do you know where to find a gun?"


    "If worstes to worst... I might have a way, perhaps to find a very powerful weapon. But since it''s been fourteen years, I''m also not sure if it''s still around..."


    "Of course, I know."


    Mr. Aiwass answered calmly, "Near Judiciary Square is the Pelican Bar."


    "...Ah, I know!"


    Lulu blurted out, "It''s the news about Mr. Aiwass, right! He... Huh? Aiwass?"


    She paused for a moment, picked up the boy from her bosom, and carefully examined him at closer range.


    "Your guess is correct, he is that ''Aiwass.'' ''We, as a couple,'' obviously died in the original history, which is why he now goes by the surname Moriarty."


    Mr. Aiwass answerednguidly, "Rather, you''ve finally noticed."


    "But you don''t understand my n. I said I was going to the Pelican Bar to prepare weapons¡ªit doesn''t mean that I''m going to buy guns."


    "...Transcendent items?"


    Lulu asked cautiously, "Do you... also have your resources in the Pelican Bar?"


    "No."


    With his eyes closed, Mr. Aiwass replied softly, "The weapon I am preparing is called Sherlock Hermes. As you said, both of our paths are auxiliary, and even if we got weapons, they would just be so-so. What we really need is to findbat-capable allies."


    "I believe that even without any priormunication or agreement... Mr. Sherlock would surelye to the Pelican Bar to gather with us."


    "¡ªTo be precise, to gather with me and Sir Knight."

 Chapter 61: Chapter 38 Execution Square

    ```


    The precise location of Judiciary Square is at the southeastern corner of the White Queen District, at the intersection with the Lohar District, connected by "Prince Lohar Main Road" linking these two areas.


    Because a very long time ago, it used to be the site of the Avalon Kingdom Judicature Hall.


    Even though the Judicature Hall waster disbanded, its functions merged into the Court, and the Minister of Justice became the administrator of the Court¡­ the residents still referred to this ce as Judiciary Square.


    Aiwass didn''t walk to Judiciary Square. Instead, he took a carriage ride there with "Annie Alexander" and his son.


    "Let me test you, Annie."


    Sitting in the carriage, Aiwass interlocked his fingers, taking Lulu''s hand by his side.


    In an effort to entertain her and likewise, to alleviate her stress, Aiwass asked casually, "Do you know which district Judiciary Square belongs to?"


    "¡­It''s the Lohar District, isn''t it?"


    Lulu was momentarily stunned before realizing that "Annie" was how she was being addressed.


    Without hesitation, she replied, "After all, it is on the east side of Prince Lohar Main Road."


    "But actually, in the eyes of the Lohar District''s residents, Judiciary Square has never been part of Lohar District."


    "¡­Eh?"


    Lulu was puzzled, "Why?"


    "Because it is entirely paved with marble, creating a vast t surface, and there are many pure white buildings serving as official symbols, which don''t match the ''Port District'' style of Lohar District. Instead, it resembles the street and building style of the White Queen District."


    The biggest difference between the Red and White Queen Districts is the color of the roads and buildings. Most buildings in the White Queen District are based on white, and the roads are also white or gray-white; the Red Queen District tends to favor brown, dark brown, and reddish-brown.


    "That makes sense," Lulu agreed thoughtfully, nodding her head.


    "However, from another perspective, the residents of the White Queen District also do not acknowledge Judiciary Square as part of their district."


    The corners of Aiwass'' mouth lifted slightly, revealing a mischievous smile, "Because it''s too dirty¡ªboth the environment and the atmosphere are filthy and stink, and the public order is extremely chaotic.


    "Since the reign of the previous king, Tudor III, people have preferred to call it Execution Square¡ª"


    ¡­Why?


    Lulu had just begun to wonder this.


    But in the next moment, her pupils began to tremble violently!


    No sooner had Mr. Fox finished speaking than she saw the marble square filled with rows and rows of densely packed gallows.


    Two rows of bodies hung silently upon them.


    Exactly forty in total.


    About six or seven of the bodies already showed clear signs of decay, with mosquitoes and flies buzzing around them. The rest of the hanged bodies were rtively fresh, no more than two days deceased.


    Most of the clothing on the corpses was in tatters, and many of the faces and bodies were marked with visible bloodstains and muttions. Some of the bodies had their abdomens hollowed out, others were missing limbs. It was unclear whether these were inflicted before death or after.


    Although hanging was considered more civilized than beheading, there was an elusive, lingering scent of blood on the square that seeped into the carriage.


    Lulu instinctively wanted to pull her hand away from Aiwass'' grip to cover her mouth, worried that she might not be able to resist the urge to vomit and thus appear rude.


    ¡ªBut Aiwass held her hand tightly, and she couldn''t break free.


    Instead, he gripped Lulu''s hand even tighter, causing her slight pain.


    Yet it was precisely because of this that Lulu was distracted from the intense difort in her heart and managed to disperse it slightly.


    "Are you alright, Annie?"


    Aiwass asked with "some concern," "Haven''t you been to Judiciary Square before?"


    "¡­This is the first time I''ve seen so many corpses."


    She murmured softly, "I''ve seen my fair share of death. I''ve be ustomed to encountering death¡­"


    But this was the first time she had witnessed such "cruel death".


    She thought she would vomit, but in the end, she did not. Now, Lulu only felt a wordless visual shock.


    "The executions take ce every Sunday. We didn''t catch it on execution day... On Sundays, quite a few people who have the day offe to watch the executions. That''s also the busiest day for pickpockets."


    As Aiwass spoke, the carriage passed by a body that was hung up high.


    ```


    Lulu looked at his face in shock and fear, the visage half-covered in blood, missing an eye, ghastly to behold.


    Leaning close to her ear, Aiwass wickedly pointed to the body and murmured softly, "You see, this corpse is still quite fresh, only dead for two days. If it were longer, there would be maggots in his eye sockets... His eyeball was probably stolen and sold on the ck market. Some rituals of the Demon Schr require a man''s left eye¡ªlook at the tear in his trousers, what was inside there has likely been stolen as well."


    "It seems that thirty-three people were executed this week. Because seven of the bodies were left over fromst week."


    "...Is that a lot or a little?"


    "For this era, it''s quite normal."


    Aiwass only answered half-heartedly.


    Fourteen yearster, the execution rate on ss Ind had significantly decreased.


    But that wasn''t because the public order had improved... but because of a mine copse seven or eight yearster, which required moreborers.


    "Fifty years ago... Oh, more than thirty years ago, that was the peak period for executions. Petty crimes like theft would result in capital punishment, and death was not the end, nor the harshest penalty¡ªthere were many cruel torments while alive, and some even after death.


    "Queen Sofia abolished thirteen kinds of cruel executions including beheading, retaining only hanging. And she significantly reduced the severity of punishment for other crimes... Many offenses that used to warrant death are now only punishable by exile, imprisonment,bor. During times of war, there were even opportunities for redemption through meritorious service..."


    As Aiwass spoke, the carriage suddenly stopped.


    "Sir."


    The coarse-voiced coachman asked, "How do I get to that bar you spoke of?"


    "Oh, we''re almost there," Aiwass replied amicably with a gentle voice, "You can just let us off here."


    "Then you should be careful of the Strangler Party."


    The coachman kindly reminded them, "Also, the fare onlyes to five copper coins¡ªthat''s half a copper coin off for you."


    The copper hourss of Avalon did not have "1" as its smallest denomination. Below that were the half copper coin and the quarter copper coin, their sizes being two-thirds and half that of a copper coin, respectively.


    These were considered somewhat umon subsidiary coinage. The quarter copper coin had been discontinued twenty years prior. The half copper coin had also stopped being issued five years ago and only the existing supply circted in the market.


    However, fourteen years earlier, the half copper coin was still a rtivelymon unit.


    Hearing this, Aiwass turned to look at Lulu.


    Lulu hesitated for a moment before realizing the money might be in her possession. After rummaging for a bit, she pulled out a Red Coin and stepped forward to hand it to the coachman with both hands, courteously.


    This Red Coin was worth ten copper coins, double the price.


    "No need for change, sir."


    She said earnestly, "Thank you for your hard work."


    "You are both beautiful and generous, madam."


    The coachman praised her and happily epted the money before leaving.


    After he left, Aiwass approached with a smile.


    "You should remember that everything here is false, right?" he said softly.


    "I remember," Lulu nodded, her expressionplex, "I just feel... even if they are false, the emotions I''m experiencing right now are real. I don''t know what I can do... so I just gave him some money."


    "That sounds a bit like the Path of Devotion, my dear Annie," Aiwass said, neither light nor serious.


    "I don''t care," she replied without hesitation, "Like the other children born on ss Ind, I was taught from a young age to follow the Path of Authority, but I still chose the Path of Beauty. Because I want to do what I feel I should do... the things I believe I ought to do.


    "I just like the principles of this path, the allure of its mystical skills. Not for the extraordinary abilities it gives me, nor do I n to bind my personality and life to it."


    Lulu, who always seemed indecisive andcking confidence, became quite passionate when discussing this topic, suddenly spouting a lot that Aiwass hadn''t mentioned.


    "...That''s not easy at all."


    Just then, a cold and youthful voice, deliberately kept low, suddenly came from behind them.


    A young Newsboy, who had been staring at them intently without moving since they got off the carriage, now stepped forward and said mockingly in a quiet tone, "You are walking a path that is naively charming and extremely dangerous.


    "The Transcendent Path is destined to forsake humanity... Madam Lulu."

 Chapter 62: Chapter 39: The Detective with the Body of a Child but the Mind of an Adult

    "That''s not necessarily true, Detective Young Master."


    Aiwass''s lips curled slightly upward as he responded in a low voice, "Is it really alright for you not to be peddling newspapers to us?"


    The boy with auburn curls and a face full of fine freckles, slender and small, looking only seven or eight years old... must be Sherlock.


    Aiwass had easily recognized Sherlock''s identity as soon as he got out of the car.


    Because Sherlock hadn''t hidden himself at all.


    He hadn''t even tried to properly y his role.


    As a newsboy, he wasn''t bustling about selling his newspapers. Instead, he stood poised and silent in the shade, surveying every passerby with his sharp and somber gaze.


    His look was like a cold, sharp de, making passersby noticeably ufortable. Several cast surprised and wary nces his way, only letting down their guard slightly when they saw it was just a dark-looking child.


    "Fox, you are clever... but you must be new, right?"


    The boy let out a cold, disdainfulugh, "Let me teach you something. In most cases, choosing not to y your role doesn''t matter."


    "Although ''ying a role'' is a necessary task, the standard for failure is not whether you fail at ying the role but whether you are questioned and exposed."


    "I am just a newsboy, even if it is strange for me to stand here motionless, but who is going toe out and question me ''you don''t seem like a real newsboy''? No one will pay attention to me... because I am insignificant."


    "I see..."


    Aiwass mused, his face breaking into a warm, bright smile, "Does that mean, as long as I take out anyone who might question me first¡ªif I make sure they can''t speak, I needn''t worry about being exposed?"


    "Hm, that''s right. But with your ability, you probably can''t do it,"


    the detective Sherlock, who had arrived in the form of a little boy, said, his words neither influenced by Aiwass''s sinister and dangerous tone nor his own calm analysis, "The old gentleman must have done so."


    "He was the first to arrive, which means he is also an Avalonian. Since we are unable to exchange information with each other and the mission requires us to head to Execution Square, we should be able to deduce from the mission''s hint to ''prepare for battle,'' that our currentmon goal is ''to acquire weapons.'' He would have then associated the most effective way to acquire weapons¡ª''ck market trading''¡ªwith the Pelican Bar, just mentioned in the newspapers."


    "Moreover, by putting himself in others'' shoes, he would have realized others would also need weapons, thus they could think of ''ck market'' as well¡ªand infer that other people mighte to the Pelican Bar. Hence, we could gather here. Compared to ''weapons,'' teammates are obviously more valuable. No matter if he is on the first or second level, he would make his way to the Pelican Bar as soon as possible. And this ce would be on the route."


    "But ''Bone Sculptor'' didn''te here."


    "Right. This indicates that he doesn''t intend to cooperate with us... or he assumes that most who would gather here have already forsaken the Path of Dusk. Even if theye, they couldn''t gain any teammates."


    "...So does that mean, Detective Sir, you had already thought we woulde here?"


    Lulu couldn''t help but whisper, "Then if ''Bone Sculptor'' Sir doesn''te... are you nning for the three of us to team up with Sir Knight?"


    "Actually, in my n, it was supposed to include ''Knight'' among the three of us meeting here. Not you."


    Sherlock''s expression was cold, "You being with Fox is an unexpected scenario."


    "Although I have no objection to the Transcendents of the Path of Beauty¡ªI must say, if you were to appear alone without ''Fox'' by your side, you definitely wouldn''t have thought toe to the entrance of the Pelican Bar for the rendezvous."


    "...Ooh."


    Lulu let out a small wail.


    The voluptuous and beautiful woman showed a lost expression for a moment, like that of a young girl.


    Because she knew, Mr. Sherlock was right.


    "There''s more to it than that," Aiwass suddenly said, "It''s not just because he knows he won''t meet any teammates if hees here."


    Sherlock looked over with some surprise.


    The boy''s voice was young, but his tone mature and cold, encouraging in a genuinely interested way, "Do tell?"


    "You have been quite concerned about ''Bone Sculptor''s'' cane. Honorable Apostle has said that the only items allowed in the ritual are ''handmade'' Extraordinary Items of one''s own making¡ªmeaning his cane is not just an ordinary staff but a creation of the Path of Dusk. But this is his first advanced ritual, which means he would have just stepped onto the Path of Dusk. I suspect his cane is an Extraordinary Item made from human bone."


    "To be precise, it''s made from apletely detached spine. Female, between eighteen and twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. No signs of heavy physicalbor, no significant evidence of exercise. But she must have often worked or studied at a desk. Also a slight hunchback."


    "She could be a student, painter, or writer. Her background wouldn''t be too poor or too rich, likely a local from ss Ind. It''s probable that a student who just graduated was lured in. Having just ventured into the Path of Dusk, and already able to create an Extraordinary Item... it suggests he had practiced bone carving or sculpting techniques often before entering the Path of Dusk, already having a good grasp of crafting Extraordinary Items."


    "That is to say, his other identity is most likely among the Path of Bnce, Path of Beauty, or Transcendence Path, skilled in crafting Extraordinary Items."

 Chapter 63: Chapter 39: The Famous Detective with a Childs Body but an Adults Mind_2

    At this point, he nced at Lulu, "I am more inclined to believe it''s the Path of Beauty. He could be a sculptor, or perhaps a collector."


    "Do you understand now, Fox? Allies of the Path of Beauty are not reliable. When their strength is weak, they usually seem quite normal, but their perception is too keen, and their nerves too sensitive. This leads them to easily lose control, to go mad, bing an unstable factor in the advancement rituals."


    "Moreover, a seasoned practitioner of the Path of Beauty can easily be indifferent to life. They value art overw and morals. Without this, it''s difficult to observe the world through the pure concept of ''beauty,'' and even harder to delve deeper."


    "Not necessarily..."


    Lulu instinctively retorted, "I also know very kind-hearted master artists..."


    "I know," the Newsboy nodded calmly, "I know some as well. And you are an exception. In my eyes, you do not qualify as a standard ''believer of beauty.'' You value morals... which is good."


    "...You just said that is very dangerous."


    "That''s not a contradiction."


    The boy was toozy to exin further and fell back into his own thoughts, murmuring to himself, "When I get back, I need to check the recent missing persons files at the Supervisory Bureau. Maybe it will give me some inspiration..."


    "To step onto the Dusk Path so suddenly at an old age, why? Because of a serious illness? Or a terminal disease? Is it a sense that their time is short-lived, a sudden strong attachment to life, a desire to continue living... Is it because there is no student to carry on the legacy, or are their own descendants too disappointing, squabbling over the inheritance?"


    "...If it''s an elderly artist from ss Ind," the overlooked Lulu gathered her courage and suddenly spoke up softly, "it might be Old Lars. He was diagnosed with bone tumors this summer."


    "Old Lars?"


    Sherlock was taken aback for a moment, then remembered, "Lars Graham, Sir? Didn''t he create for the Queen..."


    He suddenly stopped speaking.


    His gaze towards Lulu deepened, and he said nothing more.


    Aiwass took a look at her too.


    ...Good grief.


    This fully-automatic box opener can also be used to open other people''s boxes?


    So the Princess even has this feature.


    "...''Knight'' Sir is not here yet. Perhaps he didn''t think of this, given that he appears to be quite a careless man," Sherlock''s tone shifted, as his attitude clearly changed, "but it''s just as well with just us. Remember to keep close to me..."


    Rather than the previous strategy of prioritizing aid to the Knight and Fox, Sherlock''s tactic suddenly changed to prioritizing help to the Fox and Lulu who were present.


    Clearly, Sherlock must have guessed that Lulu was Princess Isabel... For him, this was not difficult.


    Luckily, Sherlock is a loyalist of Queen Sofia''s faction.


    Aiwass knew his father had once been a minister and had been framed and embroiled in trouble due to certain issues. Queen Sofia had granted his father a special pardon, a kindness to him.


    Since then, Sherlock served the royal house in secret. On some asions, the Queen would invite Sherlock to join an investigation because he was reliable and, additionally, discreet.


    Sopared to an average person, Sherlock would be much more privy to royal secrets.


    At this moment, this matter was still a secret. Even Princess Isabel herself probably didn''t know about it.


    So that''s how it is...


    Aiwass realized.


    Before his alteration of history, allowing himself to be present at this advancement ceremony he was not supposed to partake in, Princess Isabel had indeed relied on Sherlock to win her way through the ritual.


    ¡ª¡ªJust then.


    All three suddenly fell silent.


    Because in their minds, a clear chime of a bell suddenly rang out.


    No one around them heard it, only the three of them did. About a few secondster, another bell sounded.


    "...That''s the Death Knell," the boy''s expression turned grave, "bad news... or perhaps good news. Two individuals have been disqualified. Your chances of passing the ceremony just increased."


    "Two people?"


    At this, Lulu instinctively looked toward Aiwass, "Were they together as well?"


    What she wanted to say first was actually whether they were also a married couple?


    But the words were too embarrassing, so before she could speak, she swallowed them back down.


    Aiwass then asked the Newsboy, "What does the Death Knell signify? Exposed identity, or death?"


    "Death. If it''s just exposure of identity, the remaining people will hear the sound of ''roaringughter.''"


    Sherlock''s speech sped up to more than double its normal pace, "This is just the first hour, and we have three more hours of survival time. Yet the killer has already started, and two people together cannot withstand them. During the ''safe'' difficulty of the ritual, we only encounter one enemy, and it''s not too strong. It''s definitely something we can easily handle when we cooperate."


    Considering that the Bone Sculptor might act alone, among the remaining people, except for the little girl from the Path of Love and the drug dealer from the Path of Bnce, the others''bat strength should not be bad."


    "Unless it just so happens to be those two who encounter the killer together..."


    "¡ª¡ªThat would mean the monster can consecutively kill two people in a short interval."


    Aiwass picked up, "Fast enough that the other person has no chance to escape."


    "It''s definitely a sneak attack."


    Sherlock concluded, "They didn''te to Judiciary Square, which means the enemy isn''t waiting here. This ce might actually be a safe zone and we would only encounter that enemy at thest moment."


    "Not necessarily."


    The young cleric''s gaze slightly lowered, adding another possibility, "It could also be that the foreigners ran into the Strangler Party, as they don''t understand Avalon."


    "Yes, you''re right."


    The boy nodded, ncing around cautiously, "Anyway, be careful of shadows and corners... I''ll follow close behind you, to prevent me from being ambushed and dragged away without you noticing."


    "Where are we going?" Lulu asked in a low voice.


    "The Pelican Bar¡ª¡ªNow give me a reason to take you to the Pelican Bar."


    Upon hearing Sherlock''s quietmand, the young cleric''s face immediately lit up with a warm, sunny smile.


    "How polite of you, young sir. May the Candle Master illuminate your path."


    Aiwass slightly raised his voice so others could hear clearly, "Thank you for yourpliment to my wife¡ª¡ªit''s so hot today, why don''t I buy you a drink? What would you like?"


    "...Don''t get me alcohol, Fox."


    Sherlock lowered his voice as a reminder, "I can only drink milk right now... Alcohol will disturb my intellect and weaken my spells."


    "How about milk, then? You''re still too young to drink alcohol."


    Aiwass went along with the suggestion amicably.


    "...I know a bar."


    Sherlock''s volume returned to normal as he spoke in a childlike, youthful voice, "We call it the Pelican Bar!"


    Hearing Sherlock''s somewhat clumsy attempt to sound young, Aiwass''s expression became subtlyplex.


    You don''t have to force it, Mr. Sherlock.


    Your affected voice reminds me of another detective whose body is a child''s but whose mind is an adult''s...


    But at that moment, they heard another prolonged ring of the death knell.


    Aiwass''s expression turned grave.


    ¡ª¡ªThe third person is dead.


    It was only two minutes since the previous chimes.


    "Wait," Sherlock suddenly changed his expression, no longer caring about his role, "Something''s not right! They''re dying too fast!"


    It''s one thing for two people, as they might have been ambushed together. The second person might have been caught and killed while running away.


    ¡ª¡ªBut it''s unreasonable for three people to die in session when there''s clearly only one enemy!


    This is not apetitive killing ritual, with nine people arriving in different locations with different identities.


    The difficulty of this ritual is clearly not right!


    ¡ª¡ªIs it because of Sherlock or the Bone Sculptor''s presence that the enemy''s strength has been increased?


    Soon, Aiwass realized something else:


    He had thought the first two victims were foreigners. But with three deaths, it''s not so certain anymore.


    The Knight never showed up, and it might not be because he didn''t think of the Pelican Bar.


    Rather, he might have gone somewhere else and possibly already died on the way!


    Where did they go after all?


    "We can''t go to the Pelican Bar anymore. It might not be absolutely safe, and we won''t be able to escape if we get cornered. If the Knight hasn''t shown up or is already dead, we can only rely on the detective''s spells, and the first-energy-level spell strength isn''t enough."


    Aiwass immediately altered the n, takingmand from Sherlock with practiced ease:


    ¡ª¡ªWe need to take a detour and hide first to see if anyone else dies. I know a hidden path here. Follow me."

 Chapter 64 : 40 Lohar Society

    Secret paths might sound mysterious, but they are not that rare, after all.


    After all, their very purpose is for people to use them.


    Aiwass, with Lulu and Sherlock, entered an abandoned warehouse not far from the Pelican Bar, which had previously stored stone materials and was now full of dust and rubble.


    Coming out of the warehouse''s back door led to a deste wastnd in a state of decay.


    There was not a soul in sight. A small stream formed from sewage and stagnant water obstructed their path. Across the stream, heaps of household refuse and overgrown bushes, faded and rotted from the elements, piled up.


    But upon seeing this, Aiwass breathed a sigh of relief as if he had found his target, and without hesitation, he stepped over the stream and immediately made his way towards the opposite side''s expanse of trash.


    "If we keep going from here, climb over thatrge mound of earth, we''ll arrive," he said.


    "...I see," someone replied.


    Sherlock, who barely managed to jump across without dirtying his shoes, murmured in a low voice while following Aiwass, "Using sewage and trash to conjure up images of abandonment and dead ends, to subconsciously lead people to think that there is no way through. It''s not a very clever method of concealment, but it''s adequate for the average person."


    "That''s because it really isn''t some fancy secret passage, nor is it man-made," he replied.


    Leading the way, Aiwass turned slightly to exin, "It leads to a chemical nt that was abandoned twenty years ago.


    "About seven or eight years ago, a group of youngsters from the Lohar District discovered and took over this secret path. They are now the ''Sweater Brothers Association'', a faction of the Strangler Party."


    "...Strangler Party, isn''t that the name of a gang?" asked Lulu, struggling to keep up with Aiwass while holding up her skirt.


    "I thought they were thergest gang in the Lohar District."


    "Not so. The Strangler Party certainly consists of gang members, but it''s not to say there is a single gang known as the ''Strangler Party,''" he answered.


    Responding to her inquiry, Newsboy Sherlock added, "Any gang member who carries out murders and robberies by strangtion is called a Strangler Party member. It''s precisely those smaller gangs that resort to such methods for money."


    "And thergest gang?"


    "That would definitely be the Lohar Society. There''s only one Lohar Society in the Lohar District."


    Aiwass responded, "The immense organization known as ''Lohar Society'', which was formed over two hundred years ago by Prince Lohar when he was a merchant, still exists today. They trade in insurance, usury, overseas information, and business insider secrets. In a way, they are Avalon''s only legal gang."


    "...Usury is illegal, isn''t it? How can there be legal usury?"


    "Because they do not charge exorbitant interest overtly. Instead, they collect their interest through selling copies of ''Lohar Union Weekly'' at prices way beyond what ordinary people can afford," he exined.


    Turning to Lulu with a hint of resignation, Aiwass continued, "My dear, you wouldn''t think it normal to pay five Red Candles for a weekly, would you?


    "That is, after all, a weekly publication. This means that much of the news on it is old, previously reported by other newspapers ¨C there''s a saying in news, ''The morning''s newspapers are waste by night.'' While it may be an exaggeration... however you look at it, weeklies should be cheaper than dailies."


    The Newsboy that Aiwass had encountered at the entrance of the Pelican Bar was one of those ''newsboys'' employed by the Lohar Society.


    At that time, Hayna sensed something was off with the price of the ''Lohar Union Weekly''. But she didn''t understand for whom ''Lohar Union Weekly'' was meant. Aiwass didn''t feel like exining it to her either.


    Given her straightforward nature, it might be better for her not to know such matters.


    Hayna had thought that sailors, fishermen, andborers would be the ones buying the newspapers... but they couldn''t afford such prices.


    If they did have any money to spare, they would spend it on meat and beer instead.


    The tired and impoverished lower ss couldn''t afford to buy newspapers; they would glean free information from bars instead.


    Sighing softly, Little Sherlock patiently exined theplexities to the naive Princess, "Those who borrow from the Lohar Society in the Lohar District are required to regrly purchase a specified quota of ''Lohar Union Weekly'' as additional interest. When the loan collectors visit, they check the number of newspapers the borrower possesses and clip a corner off for verification.


    "They do the same with the insider information they peddle. Factory owners orpany directors will directly order arge quantity of ''Lohar Union Weekly'' from the Lohar Society. The person delivering the newspapers brings the oral messages as well.


    "They also offer services to investigate specific targets, even inviting me once. As far as I know, some private detectives ept their employment. And when the Lohar Society delivers the gathered personal information, the payment is also in a specified number of copies of ''Lohar Union Weekly''."


    "...Is it because newspapers have to pay taxes?"


    Upon hearing this, Lulu quickly caught on: "So the Minister of Finance and the Tax Minister would protect them?"


    Although it was her first time hearing about such a method of grey market transactions through newspapers, she immediately recognized the cleverness of the practice.


    This meant that the Lohar Society would dere their entire revenue to the kingdom openly and actively pay a substantial protection fee.


    If they took their money and did not arrest them, it indicated that such behavior was permitted.


    It was, after all, an organization fostered by Prince Lohar.


    Despitecking in experience, Princess Isabel had a sharp mind.


    And with her exposure to high-level knowledge, she had also developed a keen political instinct:


    "Choosing ''newspapers'' as a means to collect money must be a way for the Lohar Society to show its respect towards ''the path of authority'', right? Even though they originated from the power left by Prince Lohar, if they truly angered the Round Table Hall, they would still face trouble.


    "But if they conduct loan transactions through selling newspapers, it implies that they will consider the ''interest'' as a pure ie to be taxed... Because they do not want to offend the Supervisory Bureau,pared to merchants who are almost certain to evade taxes, their tax-paying behavior will indeed be more active and stable."


    Isabel had heard the Minister of Financein countless times about the inability to collect taxes.


    He constantly requested the Supervisory Bureau to send tax inspectors topanies suspected of tax evasion. Every time, he could produce a terrifyingly long list¡ªlonger than Isabel''s hair, wishing one end didn''t almost touch the ground when held in hand.


    ¡ªIsabel keenly realized that if Lohar Society''s tax payments were sufficiently enthusiastic, substantial, and incredibly stable, they would indeed receive protection.


    Having obtained the distribution rights to the ss Staircase Daily already demonstrated the opinion of the Round Table Hall towards them.


    The Newsboy nodded, "That''s why the Supervisory Court won''t bother them. Plus, since they maintain order in Lohar District on their own initiative, the Supervisory Bureau can only turn a blind eye to them."


    "After all, they are a society that not only practices ''Authority,'' but also respects ''Authority'' that exists higher up. In a sense, they are no longer an association but can be considered argepany with unclean methods."


    "So they won''t engage in ''strangling'' activities that could lead to an investigation. However, their squeezing of other gangs'' profit margins leads these other associations to continuously choose to dispatch members for ''strangling,'' ''home invasion robbery or theft,'' ''kidnapping,'' ''assassination,'' and other illegal ways to obtain funds."


    "This results in them being readily investigated by the Supervisory Bureau and arrested. Thus further squeezing the living space of other associations."


    "¡ªIt''s not just that."


    Finally, having seen the back door of the deserted chemical nt from afar, Aiwass breathed a sigh of relief and casually added, "In fact, after the Strangler Party attacks and kills passersby, stealing everything on them, their means of disposing of the stolen goods still leads to Lohar Society. Some of thesemissions for assassination or theft are also issued by Lohar Society."


    "So when I said earlier that there is only one biggest gang in Lohar District, it is Lohar Society."


    "...Is that so?"


    Upon hearing this, even Sherlock was taken aback.


    But after thinking it through, it seemed reasonable. No matter how legitimate, Lohar Society is essentially a gang organization with unclean hands, not a proper industrialpany.


    Yet Sherlock could never find evidence of their crimes...


    Perhaps it wasn''t just because the Supervisory Bureau destroyed the evidence.


    Perhaps from the beginning, there was no such evidence. Because they no longer needed to do those things themselves.


    Sherlock looked closely at the priest-dressed "Fox," and for the first time, began to doubt his true identity.


    He seemed very familiar with the Lohar District, knew about this secret path, and even had knowledge of Lohar Society''s secrets...


    ¡ªCould it be that "Fox" was not a student from the school, but a gang member? Or perhaps even a spy nted by some organization into the church, or a renegade priest?


    With this thought in mind, Sherlock tentatively asked, "Mr. Fox¡­ would it cause you trouble if I investigated the ''Sweater Brothers Association''?


    "If it would, I think I might look the other way. As a thank you for your help during the ritual."


    Upon hearing this, Aiwass paused in his steps.


    He turned back to look at the Newsboy, a slight smile curling up at the corner of his mouth.


    "If I were afraid of you checking, I wouldn''t have mentioned it in front of you. After you investigate the ''Bone Sculptor,'' feel free to arrest the Sweater Brothers Association as well... You''d be removing a menace to society. Don''t think they are a small group; each member has at least five lives on their hands.


    "ording to some rumors I''ve heard... they might be connected with the group behind Pelican Bar."


    ¡ªBut it was not just that.


    The reason Aiwass remembered this secret path was because here was a main storyline side quest.


    He hadpletely forgotten the prelude to the story, but Aiwass was certain the Sweater Brothers Association was definitely rted to the Noble Red Society. Members of the Sweater Brothers Association who appeared in this side quest were not only greatly enhanced in physique and made more ferocious in mind by the Demon Schr''s ritual, but also kept arge number of Demon Dogs made from corpses.


    That side quest was quite disgusting.


    Not only was it long and winding, making it easy to get lost if one did not know the way, but the ground was also littered with various trash, mud pits, and sewage that hindered movement, and there were many Demon Dogs lurking around corners, activating when the first person walked by, then suddenly rushing out to bite the second person.


    These Demon Dogs were not only covered in shrapnel armor with sharp edges, tough as hell with high damage, but also had chain aggression¡ªonce hit, they would start frantically calling other dogs, and the patrolling dogs woulde running once they heard.


    Compared to the boss with its straightforward mechanics, the small mobs in this side quest were much more troublesome.


    Aiwass had no desire to go through this quest again. Just thinking about those man-eating, half-human-height iron-ted mad dogs pouncing and biting gave him a tingling sensation in the scalp.


    It would be better to let Sherlock take them down in advance.


    It also conveniently gave Sherlock something to do, to prevent him from fixating on investigating the matters behind Pelican Bar. Otherwise, "that person" might think his note ended up in Sherlock''s hands, bing cautious and beginning to destroy evidence and silence witnesses.


    If "that person" destroyed evidence faster than Aiwass could investigate, it would be difficult for him to proceed.


    Although "Fox''s" identity was a mystery, for a suspicious and astute Sherlock, the clues casually provided by the Fox encountered during the ritual in the Dream Realm seemed more trustworthy than clues deliberately delivered in reality.


    Because he would suspect thetter''s motives, attempting to infer from a higher level in reverse¡ªit wasn''t wrong. Aiwass was afraid he would realize his motives, so he had to ry information "unintentionally" to him through a casual "chance encounter."


    ¡ªAiwass knew Sherlock; he was indeed such a person.

 Chapter 65 : 41 Hook Demon

    The abandoned chemical nt was nked by cracked brick walls, but from the outside, it still appeared rtively tidy. It wasn''t overgrown with too much ivy or weeds, just coated in ayer of gray-yellow dust and sludge.


    Compared to a factory, the ce resembled more an abandoned vi or a storage house.


    The corridor wasn''t wide, probably just enough to fit two or three people walking shoulder to shoulder. Because there was no illumination, even at noon outside, it was pitch ck inside.


    As soon as Aiwass stepped inside, he was greeted by a very heavy smell of dust. There was also the pungent odor of something like durian, which was quite choking.


    Lulu, carrying a child, coughed softly while cautiously making her way further inside.


    Even though she knew there was no one around, she still moved stealthily.


    She could feel her heart racing¡ªeven though she was still on ss Ind, she felt an unprecedented sense of adventure. Everything here was so novel, filling her with overwhelming excitement.


    "We came here..."


    Lulu whispered, "to hide from that murderer? Since this is a chemical nt, should we get some chemical reagents for self-defense? What if he follows us here?"


    "First, he would have to find the door."


    Aiwass spoke with unabashed precision, "This chemical nt doesn''t have a main entrance because the back door is actually a dead-end. Only the warehouse''s rear door leads here. After it was abandoned, the original entrance was blocked by the newly built stone warehouse. As the warehouse expanded, the entrance waspletely sealed off."


    "The chemical nt has two floors, plus higher areas essible bydders. Each floor has a multitude of interconnected rooms, and there are a full three staircases leading between floors. If the invader is alone, we have plenty of space to conduct guerri warfare..."


    He stopped mid-sentence when he suddenly heard a death knell.


    Thereupon, Aiwass immediately fell silent and exchanged nces with the two others.


    "The fourth one."


    Sherlock said softly.


    "The three of us, plus ''Bone Sculptor'', that makes four."


    Aiwass squinted and asked, "Do you think anyone else could have survived?"


    "Coco. I suspect she belongs to dual Paths."


    Sherlock reminded softly, "Remember, Fox? Lady Eleni mentioned ''this time, there are three Transcendents with multiple Paths''."


    "You, Knight, and Lulu are clearly newbies. The King and Cheese aren''t that clever either. Excluding me and Bone Sculptor, there should be one more...either Basil or Coco."


    "I don''t have much of an impression of Miss Basil."


    Lulu leaned in and whispered, "I can''t even remember her features."


    "That''s one of the manifestations of the Path of Adaptation, gaining advantage by blending into the environment through concealing oneself. Don''t underestimate her¡ªif you think carefully, you''ll realize that among the nine of us, only Basil hasn''t revealed any information. We know nothing about her."


    The Newsboy reminded, "If this is the New Moon Ritual, I''d be most wary not of Bone Sculptor, but her. Every Transcendent of the Path of Adaptation is a professional Hunter and assassin. I won''t be relieved until I know she''s dead."


    "What about Coco?"


    Aiwass countered, "Why do you think Coco is dual Path?"


    "I''m not certain, it''s just that I lean more toward the third person being Coco. As for my reason..."


    Sherlock said, "It''s what she said herself, ''My profession is not Demon Schr''."


    "She was thest but one to be captured, eventer than ''King''. If King was in Star Antimony, then Coco definitely wouldn''t be in Avalon."


    "But in Star Antimony, although Transcendence Paths are legal, ordinary people can''t ess Extraordinary Professions other than Demon Schr."


    "So, in Avalon, Extraordinary Professions for the Path of Authority can only be Legal Mage, Arbiter, and Sky Cavalry, right?"


    Lulu asked.


    Sherlock corrected, "Precisely speaking, only Legal Mage and Inspector. Not all Inspectors can advance to Arbiter; even if they reach the level, they are not allowed to transcend without the Round Table Hall''s review. A mandatory condition for advancing to Arbiter is obtaining ''Judgment Authority'' to conduct individual trials bypassing the judicial system."


    "Even if an Inspector enters the Supervisory Court, they only havew enforcement authority. They cannot fulfill the conditions for bing an Arbiter."


    "And ''Knight'' sir''s Light Cavalry profession''s advancement to Sky Cavalry is exclusive to the military system... Each Sky Cavalry is an elite among the elite in the Avalon military."


    "Ah, I know that one!"


    Lulu''s eyes brightened, "It''s when the Red Griffon bes a talking White Griffon, then the Light Cavalry can be Sky Cavalry, right!"


    "Right. They must wait for their Gryphon partners to mature. The dangerous brown-red feathers mustpletely turn Pure White, their bodies should rapidly grow from 1.8 meters to over 2.5 meters, their temperamental nature should be calm, and their intelligence should increase enough to speak simple humannguage... Only then can a Light Cavalry advance to Sky Cavalry. And this requires strengthening their partners through the Path of Authority. A White Griffon eats thirty pounds of fresh meat daily even without training, and that doubles during training andbat."


    "In contrast, the Gryphon granted to a regr Inspector, due to the different breed, can at most grow to 1.5 meters in a lifetime, and it cannot learn human speech. It also only needs about five pounds of fresh meat a day. Even more, these creatures live a mere thirty years¡ªa lifetimemitment more akin to a loyal pet capable of flying with passengers. The military''s White-Feathered Griffon can live hundreds of years¡ªtheir human partners pass away from old age, while the Gryphons still live on."

 Chapter 66: Chapter 41 Hook Demon_2

    "In the Star Antimony Kingdom, the extraordinary profession that corresponds to the Inspector is the Demon, and the one that corresponds to the Legal Mage is the Demon Schr. Amoner who enters the Royal Law University to be a Transcendent wouldn''t be able to be a Light Cavalry upon graduation. Because the resources for pure Gryphons are scarce, it is necessary to ensure the loyalty of the Light Cavalry, hence Light Cavalry can only be selected from within the Knight Families¡ªjust like our ''Knight'' Mr., who wore a helmet during the ceremony."


    "Knight" might not have realized, but he actually was the first person to open the box himself, even faster than Lulu.


    Because in Avalon, it is forbidden for anyone outside the Knight Families to possess armor privately. Most likely, that would result in a death sentence.


    This means that either his father or his mother must be a knight of the Round Table Hall. That''s how he could get a Knight''s helmet and also how he could be Light Cavalry.


    "...Noble of the Star Antimony Kingdom?"


    Lulu muttered, "I''ve heard that over in Star Antimony, there are hereditary ''nobles.'' They have titles, as well as their ownnds and manors. I''ve read about it in many ys and poems."


    Although Avalon regards Star Antimony as an enemy state, they dare notunch a direct war... One part of the reason is that they cannot be sure if the Royal Curse originated from the Star Antimony Kingdom. And the power in Avalon is not so much concentrated in the queen''s hands as it is in the Round Table Hall... Such a blurred excuse is not sufficient for Avalon, which is much weaker in national power, to dere war proactively on Star Antimony.


    The Star Antimony Kingdom is currently the most powerful country on this continent.


    They were once the only empire across thisnd. Even after splitting into four separate nations, they remained powerful.


    The Star Antimony Kingdom established by Valentine I, who penned the sacred scripture ''Triumphal Chariot of Antimony'' for the Path of Bnce, has now reimed two of the pieces from the former empire, restoring eighty percent of the empire''s territory.


    Avalon could defeat the Iris Flower, but would definitely fail against Star Antimony. The alchemy research that was over fifty years more advanced than Avalon''s allowed Star Antimony''s technology to be exceptionally developed. They had justunched a war in the previous years, annexing another neighboring country that had split from the empire... The sight of those enormous regenerating magical constructs on the battlefield was fearsome.


    Only when Avalon, the Iris Flower, and the Holy Nation unite, can they barely maintain a bnce of power in the politicalndscape. However, if anyone were to be attacked by Star Antimony, unless showing strong resistance, the other allies might not necessarily join in the defense.


    But another question arose in Princess Isabel''s mind:


    Why did that noble of such a mighty country be a Transcendent at this age?


    Though she appeared very young, as if she were just over twenty, Princess Isabel''s keen perception from the Path of Beauty and her awareness as a woman assured her that Miss Coco... or rather, Lady Coco had to be at least in her thirties.


    She must have used alchemical medicine capable of preserving youth to maintain such a young, pure appearance.


    Bing a Transcendent at over thirty years old¡ªcould that be toote?


    Then she immediately realized and confidently stated, "Coco must be the person with Dual Paths!"


    "Why are you so sure?"


    Sherlock asked in return.


    "Because Miss Coco is not as young as she looks; she must be over thirty. She has used alchemical medicine to maintain her youth."


    "...I see. That makes sense... The fifth survivor should be Coco."


    Sherlock nodded slowly, his expression bing more grave, "That might not be good."


    Aiwass raised an eyebrow, "You mean, the enemy might be a Demon Schr?"


    "Listen, both of you. I''ve remembered an incident."


    Sherlock said in a low voice, "Ten years ago, in 1888, which is four years from this current timeline, a series of serial killings took ce in Lohar District. Every eight days, a pregnant woman would be murdered, her unborn baby brutally cut out, and her kidneys taken. These are clear traces of ritual killings."


    "The Supervisory Bureau called it the ''Jack the Ripper'' case. I was sixteen years old at the time and participated in the investigation of this case."


    The boyish-looking Detective slowly began, "The murderer of this case was a young Demon Schr, who inherited a Hook Demon from his own mentor. That was a demon born over a hundred years ago from the notion of ''surgical abortion''. Therefore, he tried to strengthen this notion, to enhance the demon he had received through this ritual."


    "He was eventually caught by us and executed. But before Jack was executed, he confessed that he had another master."


    "¡ª He confessed that his master had stayed on ss Ind for a long time, apparently serving someone continuously. In the past few years, he killed many people for that backstage maniptor. Recently, he went abroad, supposedly heading to the Horus Empire or Parthian Ancient Country. ''To pass through the desert, he needed to maintain his own purity, so he transferred the demon to me,'' after which his master never returned."


    "Based on the timeline, that Demon Schr should be on ss Ind right now. The Hook Demon itself is a lower-level demon, not very powerful in directbat, but especially skilled in ambushes..."


    As Sherlock got to this point, he suddenly asked, "Did you have a curse on you when you appeared?"


    Aiwass and Lulu looked at each other and replied, "We didn''t, but Little Aiwass did. It was a curse of little power, but one used for tracking."


    "That''s it!"


    Sherlock confirmed, "I had one on me when I appeared, the exact same type. I dispelled it with a spell myself. This may well be the reason we have not been attacked yet... curse tracking counters the hiding ability of the Path of Adaptation. The person who just died, must have been Basil. She held on for a long time but still couldn''t escape."


    "The Hook Demon can locate its target through a curse and jump directly across space. The simrly required Mirror Demon needs a mirror as a medium, the Shadow Demon cannot appear at noon. And these two demons are upper-level demons..."


    "Coco is only first-level in energy, correct?" asked Aiwass.


    "Transcendence Path is inherently proficient in demon knowledge. Her anti-demon ritual should be able to dispel lower-level demons. It''s also possible that she transferred the curse on herself to someone else."


    "So, our enemy is that Demon Schr whomands the Hook Demon?" Lulu rified.


    "Yes, precisely, the Hook Demon that is being remotely controlled by him. The only problem is, although the Hook Demon is only second-level in strength, its speed is too fast, and it''s good at stealth attacks... nearly impossible to defeat for second-level Transcendents. Unless one of us is a Legal Mage, capable of instantly suppressing it, we may be able to kill it."


    Sherlock frowned tightly, muttering discontentedly, "I wonder just how much more difficult they''ve made this ritual¡ª they''ve upped the difficulty, yet they don''t cooperate with us!"


    "The three of us definitely cannot defeat the Hook Demon, and adding the ''Knight'' probably wouldn''t work. He is not an Inspector or a Legal Mage, but a Light Cavalry, without the power of suppression. Judging by the difficulty of this ritual, it seems that we only have a chance to repel the Hook Demon if at least one of Coco or the Bone Sculptor is willing to cooperate with us."


    "Now we can only hope you haven''t left behind any other cursed objects... A second-level Demon Schr can only curse one person once a day. I''ve already been cursed, leaving just you two. If we''re lucky, maybe we can drag out the time until the end... which leaves us with just two more hours."


    Hearing this, Aiwass subconsciously touched his nose.


    ... To be honest.


    I''m not bragging, but.


    If the enemy is a demon... then I may have inadvertently raised the difficulty of this ritual.

 Chapter 67: Chapter 42: The Arrival of the White Fox, Benefiting the People

    Despite deducing that their enemy was likely the Hook Demon, a sessor of Jack the Ripper, Aiwass Moriarty, his threepanions, and the child did not let down their guard, convinced of this conclusion.


    Just to be safe, they remained hidden in the abandoned chemical factory, secretly watching the only entrance.


    Aiwass couldn''t reveal his Transcendence Path abilities, so he couldn''t create anti-demon arrays, much less exin the habits and weaknesses of the Hook Demon.


    Since there was nothing else to do, he simply found a seat upstairs with Lulu and sat down for a chat. They talked about music, poetry, philosophy, the nonexistent "I have a friend," recounted various secrets of the continent, and shared vulgar rumors that circted only among the lower sses. Time flew by quickly.


    In between, they even took the time to extend Little Aiwass''s luby to ensure he wouldn''t wake up panicked.


    It was then that they realized that the couple, along with Little Aiwass, hadn''t eaten breakfast. It was just after ten o''clock, and they were starting to feel hungry.


    Fortunately, this year Little Aiwass was already four years old and had been weaned a long time ago. Otherwise, if he were still a baby, crying uncontrobly from hunger upon waking, Aiwass might have had to step aside politely.


    For a four-year-old child, going hungry for a couple of meals wasn''t a big deal.


    Aiwass himself said so. He said it was fine.


    After all, ording to the original history, in a few days, Little Aiwass would be entering the orphanage. By then, going hungry would be a daily urrence. But ording to the timeline of this fabricated world, Julio and Annie clearly didn''t have to die, and Little Aiwass should be able to grow up alongside his biological parents.


    Of course, the possibility of this future existed only in their idle chat.


    This dreamlike world seemed incredibly real, with all sorts of tactile sensations and feelings of hunger, but it was undeniably fabricated¡ªfilled with various incongruities in the details, continually reminding the ritual participants that this was just a temporary, fictional world.


    It was as if by doing so, people would regard the stories that urred during this ritual as equally illusory.


    On the other hand, it was Lulu, the inexperienced neer, who seriously discussed with Aiwass the possible developments in this world and spected on the reasons they encountered this problem.


    She guessed that the biological parents of Aiwass Moriarty must have been killed by the Hook Demon... but she couldn''t figure out why Little Aiwass survived. Afterward, she began to discuss enthusiastically with Aiwass all the possible scenarios of their being attacked.


    Sherlock mentioned once, "The stories that happen in this world don''t necessarily coincide with the real world," but Lulu clearly wasn''t listening. He didn''t speak further and could not be bothered to listen¡ªinstead, he turned around and set off on an adventure in the chemical factory, satisfying his curiosity and thirst for knowledge.


    There was some benefit to it, after all.


    Sherlock found two bottles of distilled water and a bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid in the abandonedboratory. They could be used as materials for casting spells. After that, Sherlock began to pore over the documents in the abandoned chemical factory, engrossed in the various leftover files he had found.


    He was like a detective invited to investigate an abandoned chemical factory, earnestly probing the incident.


    As an Adapter of the Path of Wisdom, he naturally had a strong reading habit. Compared to chitchat, this kind of reading was a more satisfying pastime for him.


    "I think I understand why this chemical factory was abandoned..."


    Sherlock returned content and smiling with satisfaction. But just as he was about to share his deduction with Aiwass, he saw the two still chatting in the same ce¡ªthey had started with art, gone full circle, ande back to art again.


    The newsboy covered in grey raised his eyebrows, twirling the bottle of sulfuric acid in his hand, "Haven''t you finished chatting yet?"


    "Chatting, you see, is an exchange of souls."


    Aiwass smiled and turned back, "Is there ever an end to conversation?


    "Family, life, dreams, what we read, what we do, what we think... Two hearts that are not the same, two souls that have yet to ovep, are like two finely carved gems. When they are ced together against the sunlight and turned ever so slightly, they project a myriad of colors on the wall¡ªthat is the spark of differing thoughts. I call this chatting.


    "And if by chance, at a certain angle, it casts a dazzlingly beautiful light that is unforgettable for a lifetime¡ªthat is the focal point of the soul. I call this love."


    "I had thought perhaps you came from the Port District, involved with gangs."


    Upon hearing this, Sherlock replied coolly, "Now I''m sure of it¡ªyou must be the yboy from a rich family. Smooth-talking, sugar-coated, and persuasive.


    "Did you read all those books just to charm girls?"


    He had been distracted by the noises outside while reading the ledger before. Of course, he could also hear Aiwass''s voice in this silent factory.


    ¡ª¡ªThis was indeed a man with insights and refinement. He might not be as young as he appeared, perhaps using magic potions like "Basil" to maintain his youth... Maybe he was indeed middle-aged, as cultured as the priest Julio he was pretending to be.


    But listening to Aiwass''s sophistry, Sherlock was convinced the man was young.


    This sophistry revealed vanity, immaturity, and frivolity, along with a touch of condescension¡ªof course, he had the right to be proud. To have such mature thinking and extensive knowledge at his age, he was far superior to his brainless peers.


    The "Fox" was indeed impressive.


    But still not as much as Aiwass Moriarty.


    Although Sherlock had only met the real Aiwass once, that young man who could not be cured of his fundamental injuries by Illumination Art and was temporarily confined to a wheelchair was genuinely intelligent, polite, and humble.


    Sherlock held him in high regard. If he had not been busy advancing, he might have engaged in more exchanges with him.


    "Is wisdom that is spoken to others not wisdom at all? Perhaps sharing truth with others is not the truth?"


    Aiwass retorted, "I read books in order to speak to others¡ªisn''t that also a form of dedication? There will always be people who struggle to read, but they might not be the forsaken of the Great Sage. It''s just like the eyes of the blind, the legs of theme, the ears of the deaf; theyck the organs that allow them to read. Apart from this, they are still mature souls, deserving of chasing after light, pursuing truth."


    The ck-haired, blue-eyed young monk narrowed his eyes, his mature and handsome face revealing a fox-like smile.


    Sherlock raised his eyebrows, remaining silent.


    Though the words still seemed sophistical¡­ they weren''t bad to listen to.


    But Sherlock quickly realized that these were just words Aiwass had switched to in order to please himself.


    "Worthy of the ''Fox'' indeed."


    Sherlock spoke with veiled sarcasm, "I''ve heard that in the eastern deserts of the Primordial Empire, there''s talk of ''fox charms''. It''s about persuasive foxes beguiling monarchs."


    "Then I think you don''t know much. ording to the sayings of the Primordial Empire, in terms of the Path of Wisdom, a fox is called ''a thousand years as ifmuning with the heavens''; in the star-reading techniques of the Path of Adaptation, it represents the ninth star of the tail, predicting plentiful offspring and blessings; in the view of the Path of Authority, it''s said ''When the white foxes, the nation prospers; without it, the people grow arrogant and unrestrained''; and even in the Path of Love, there''s a saying, ''If the ruler does not fall for beauty, but diligently governs... only then will the fox appear,''" Sherlock retorted without pause in the samenguage.


    Does that really mean that my arrival indicates that Avalon is at the height of its prosperity?" Aiwass shot back.


    ...Do you believe what you''re saying?


    Aiwass''s remark left Sherlock momentarily unsure how to respond.


    Especially since he knew "Lulu" was Princess Isabel, he dared not say more. Compared to Sherlock, Lulu obviously had a better impression of foxes... If she were to go back and spread words, he would be unfairly used.


    ¡ªIndeed, the "fox" had guessed who Lulu was.


    That''s why he had spoken in that way. And that''s why he had made a point of getting closer to "Lulu"...


    Sherlock had originally wanted to prevent the naive young princess from being enchanted by the "fox" and had stepped up to intervene. But the fox''s learning exceeded his expectations... He had even read the original texts from another continent. That being the case, those secrets he talked about earlier might not all be tales and lies...


    Thinking of this, he began to admire the fox somewhat.


    Such is the Path of Wisdom. They seek the mysterious and the true, but not to leave legacies or to teach others.


    Just studying is enough to bring joy; the pursuit of truth alone is enough to give meaning to life. From this perspective, if the fox is on the Path of Wisdom, he might even be considered his predecessor.


    Sherlock raised his eyebrows but his tone softened, "I''m wondering if you might be the third dual path walker?


    "Your knowledge and intelligence have surpassed many fools who blindly follow the Path of Wisdom. If not, would you be interested in the path of a mage?


    "If you''re willing, you cane to me. You know where I am... I can help you embark on the Path of Wisdom."


    "Ah, I''ll pass."


    Aiwass shook his head, "My reading is quite utilitarian. You want me to read simply for the sake of reading, I might not have the patience for that."


    "How peculiar. A follower of the Path of Devotion ims to be utilitarian."


    "There''s no conflict. My purpose is to redeem all beings."


    With that, he smiled, "You may not believe it now.


    "But I will save Avalon... and indeed this world from peril."


    "...No, I believe," Sherlock replied softly after a pause.


    For when the "fox" spoke those words, the subtle smile that always seemed somewhat malevolent on his face faded, and instead, he appeared much more serious.


    For a moment, Sherlock felt the "fox" was telling the truth.


    Perhaps the sly fox usually lies effortlessly, deceiving without a draft... but perhaps, this statement alone was the truth.


    Seeing the atmosphere between Aiwass and Sherlock suddenly turn to silence, Lulu, standing by, became somewhat flustered.


    As holding Little Aiwass had tired her out, she hadid the child''s head on her thigh, letting him lie on the side of the chair, with his head resting on her leg as he slept.


    Lulu didn''t quite understand what the two were talking about¡ªbecause she hadn''t understood the foreignnguage amidst Aiwass''s words.


    But she instinctively felt that they might have been arguing, possibly about something rted to her.


    Harboring the thought that she might have done something wrong, Lulu''s expression grew tense.


    And when she was tense, she wanted to stand up and speak¡ªbecause, ording to the etiquette learned by Isabel, as the one being protected, it would seem formal and polite to do so. But as soon as she exerted herself, she nearly dropped the child she hadpletely forgotten about, directly onto the floor. Thankfully, Sherlock''s quick reflexes allowed him to cushion the fall, preventing Little Aiwass''s head from hitting the ground.


    The three were flustered for a while before they finally managed not to wake Little Aiwass.


    "...Please take care of the child," Aiwass said with a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Shall I help?"


    Sherlock sighed without a word.


    Lulu, on the other hand, had already forgotten what she was about to say just moments before.


    With some embarrassment, she twisted a lock of hair around her temple and whispered softly, "I''m trying to remember what I was going to say..."


    But just then, her expression suddenly changed.


    "...Ugh!"


    Lulu felt a turmoil in her belly, followed by a searing pain¡ªas if the agony of her menstrual period were magnified three or four times. She turned pale instantly, her legs gave way, and her body shook violently.


    She staggered forward a few steps.


    Just as Aiwass caught hold of her, Lulu bent over and vomited a mouthful of foul blood, followed by severe coughing.


    In the dark red blood, there were clots as ck as congealed ink.

 Chapter 68: Chapter 43 So, Aiwass began to hunt

    "¡ª It''s a curse."


    Aiwass''s expression turned solemn as he quickly identified the type of curse, "It''s the Blood Contamination Curse."


    This agonizing curse was concocted using venomous scorpions, snakes, and living poisonous toads as materials, with menstrual blood as the medium. It could make one experience triple the pain of menstrual cramps continually, and depending on resistance to the curse, it could torment a person from half an hour to six hours.


    Sherlock''s countenance became grave, and deep blue radiance burst forth from his eyes in an instant.


    The cold, rational, and mysterious light reflected from the depths of his eyes as he extended his left pinky and drew a rune in the air that resembled a walking stick.


    "Water ovees blood, just as the pure will always triumph over the impure."


    He murmured softly as he picked up the bottle of pure water from the table.


    Sherlock flipped it over directly, but the water did not fall to the ground. Instead, it filled the rune above.


    When it was full, it suddenly contracted into a sphere of water and then shot forward, striking Lulu''s face.


    As water sshed, the pure water that sttered from her face turned into foul blood, dripping to the ground.


    Lulu''s pained low whimpers ceased at once. Yet, she was still vomiting, continuously spewing out blood.


    Aiwass reached out to check and found that her neck and chest were abnormally cold.


    He furrowed his brows, "You didn''tpletely remove it, only half."


    Sherlock nced over and deduced from Lulu''s symptoms, "This curse is a bitplex. It seems her esophagus and stomach are being corroded by the curse. The medium should be more than just menstrual blood. This is aposite curse; better you handle it... let the professional do what they do best."


    "Hmm, I''ll do it."


    "Is your mana still sufficient?"


    "At least enough to heal her."


    Aiwass answered.


    He propped Lulu up, allowing her to sit halfway with her face down to prevent the filthy blood she coughed up from causing suffocation.


    Next, Aiwass stretched out his left hand, his fingers buried in "his wife''s" thick and dense tinum hair, holding her somewhat cold neck with the heel of his hand, and cing the tip of his left middle finger on the back of her head.


    His expression was grave and solemn, and a zing light like the setting sun ignited in his deep blue eyes.


    The light that radiated from his resonance with the Path was a deep red with a hint of gold, symbolizing an excess of the fire element of the Path of Devotion.


    ¡ª This was the most evident healing reaction from Aiwass''s "Art of Illumination."


    Jet-ck smoke hissed and surged continually from the back of Lulu''s head, even dulling her tinum hair. Her body convulsed violently, shuddering at an extremely high frequency. Yet, she clenched her teeth without making a sound, worried about waking up Little Aiwass... but still, there were irresistible groansing through.


    "We have visitors, and they are not friendly."


    Sherlock spoke eerily, "Leave it to me, you continue with the healing."


    He flung the bottle of sulfuric acid from the table directly, letting it hit the wall.


    But the moment the bottle shattered, he extended his right hand to form a fist and threw a punch through the air towards the sulfuric acid bottle.


    Instead of spraying out, the clear oily sulfuric acid filled with a sort of dark green gas, causing it to bulge slightly... like a clenched fist or a beating heart. It was thicker than sulfuric acid, and its volume had increased significantly.


    The next moment, Sherlock''s right hand opened into a w, grasping at the space not far from where the sulfuric acid bottlended in the corner.


    There was an unnaturally dark shadow there, bing increasingly visible and reddening.


    Long-range instant teleportation required manifestation time. Ever since Lulu had been cursed, Sherlock had been constantly observing his surroundings.


    "Fox" had chosen a good spot. In this closed factory, the brightness should''ve been uniform.


    If any area suddenly became darker or brighter, that was the precursor of the Hook Demon teleporting in!


    The hovering mass of oily green liquid also simultaneously formed into ws, striking at that spot!


    The sound that emanated was like a baby''s cry or an old cat in heat. A piercingly sharp noise... it was a high-pitched sound that made one feel as if something was buzzing in their ears.


    But even so, the sleeping Little Aiwass was not awakened. He just struggled painfully as if having a nightmare.


    "I hate impolite kids."


    Sherlock muttered darkly, "Especially the loud ones..." Experience the adventure on m|vl_em|p_yr


    His spell had caused very effective damage and control¡ª


    A small demon barely as tall as a shank, entirely red, bipedal but with four arms... with a head resembling a bald, chubby man or a ferocious baby, was caught by the sulfuric acid w just as it appeared and couldn''t break free!


    The hissing of burning flesh sounded as it struggled in vain.


    The sulfuric acid w seemed to have a solid entity within, holding it firmly in ce and continuing to scorch it!


    ¡ª While the situation seemed excellent, Sherlock showed no joy.


    For he could clearly feel his water and earth mana burning away rapidly as he guided and maintained the spell.


    He had used a bit of his water mana to purify the curse from his own body earlier, and was left with only two points of water mana.


    Even if he forced his earth mana, which he had in abundance, to substitute for water mana in activating that bottle of sulfuric acid and constructing the "Aqua Demon Hand," and to bear the subsequent maintenance mana cost, the spell still required at least half of the water mana to sustain.


    Two points of water mana, along with two points of earth mana, were only enough to maintain this spell for forty seconds.


    For a human being of flesh and blood, this was more than enough.


    An activated sulfuric acid w, capable of reaching speeds of up to twenty meters per second, could easily eliminate a small team of ordinary people. The Aqua Demon Hand, constructed of pure water, could briefly melt and permeate the inside of armor; whereas the Aqua Demon Hand he built with earth mana could easily crushrge trees and shred leather armor.

 Chapter 69: Chapter 43: Then, Aiwass began to hunt _2

    But even so, the likelihood that this could kill the Hook Demon was slim. They could only hope to injure and scare it away.


    As long as "Fox" quickly dispels theposite curse on "Lulu," that would count as a victory!


    Because without a cursed individual nearby, the Hook Demon could not teleport instantly. Hence, its threat... would at least be greatly reduced.


    ...Wait a minute?


    Sherlock''s expression suddenly changed as he realized something.


    Curse?


    Although he wasn''t very familiar with this, he knew one principle.


    That was, the difficulty of cursing the same person repetitively increased. The curse would also raise the cursed individual''s resistance to curses, and a medium used once could not be utilized again.


    In other words, within the limited four-hour time, perhaps the enemy could only curse each of them once.


    If that were the case, maybe Coco hadn''t constructed an anti-demon array... but like him, had directly dispelled the curse on herself, rendering the positioning ineffective!


    Among the Alexander couple, the first to be cursed was not "Fox."


    ¡ªBut "Little Aiwass"!


    Now that he and Lulu had both been cursed... the next one would be Fox!


    Realizing this, Sherlock''s heart sank.


    This is bad.


    This is the pitfall of the Path of Devotion.


    He could easily lift curses from others, but he could not use Illumination Art on himself. It was a secret technique of burning oneself to light the way for others.


    That''s right, the Priest can use "Rite of Fire"!


    ...But there were no candles here!


    "Fox!"


    Amidst the Hook Demon''s shrill screams, Sherlock suddenly shouted: "Can you use ''Rite of Fire'' on burning wood or chemical reagents?"


    "...You''re giving me too much credit,"


    Aiwass replied helplessly, also in a raised voice: "And the healing power of Fire Rite Skill isn''t as strong as Illumination Art. Even if I could use it, as a first energy level Priest, I can''t dispel a second energy level curse!"


    ...That makes sense.


    Sherlock was not too familiar with the Path of Devotion. But he had just recalled that... Aiwass Moriarty was also a Priest, yet he was still confined to a wheelchair. Presumably, it was because the source level of the injury was too high for the Rite of Fire to dispel.


    Because the Priest''s "Rite of Fire" is essentially "restoration," not "healing" or "regeneration." This means that the higher the level of the source causing the damage, the harder it is to heal. True "regeneration," relying solely on the body''s own healing ability to restore health, is found in the Path of Adaptation and the Path of Bnce.


    However, hearing Fox say this, Sherlock understood that this clever and cunning young man had also realized the problem.


    "What do you n to do now?"


    Sherlock asked.


    "What else can I do?"


    Aiwass answered lightheartedly: "Haven''t we already won?"


    As he spoke, he had already sessfully dispelled the curse on Lulu.


    Once he said this, Sherlock knew what Aiwass was about to do.


    The Hook Demon''s screams abruptly stopped.


    This was obviously not because it was dead¡ªit was still in good condition. It must have been recalled by its master.


    Aiwass breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Don''t look over here, Mr. Sherlock."


    He cautioned, and then proceeded to unbutton Lulu''s coat, allowing her to lie on her side, and slipped his left hand into her waistband, making direct contact with the skin on her chest. He activated "Illumination Art" using his remaining light attribute mana.


    "You''re the one,"


    Sherlock didn''t turn around but quipped back: "Just don''t touch indiscriminately¡ªMiss Lulu is still a young girl."


    He thought to himself: She is still a princess, no less.


    "Of course, I know that,"


    Aiwass responded irritably: "What do you take me for? A beast that preys on children?"


    He had instinctively thought of Lulu as a child.


    Out of respect, Aiwass touched the side and back of her heart, rather than the front.


    The searing light mana, flowing with the powerful pump of the heart, spread throughout her body, rapidly regenerating the corroded mucous membrane in her throat and stomach. Lulu''s minor injuries were easily healed, using only a bit of Aiwass''s mana.


    After Aiwass withdrew his hand, Lulu''s first action upon sitting up was to tidy up her clothes.


    "...Thank you, Mr. Fox."


    With a slight blush, Lulu seriously thanked Aiwass: "You didn''t need to save me..."


    "You mean, to kill you off?"


    Sherlock was the first to react.


    "I refuse."


    Aiwasszily said: "If it were Basil, maybe she would have done so. But I wouldn''t."


    With that, he walked back the way they came.


    "¡ªMr. Fox?"


    Lulu, startled, subconsciously wondered if she''d said or done something wrong again.


    Aiwass paused, turned his head, and said leisurely:


    "The demon can no longer find you. But it can still find me... There''s one more hour until the ritual ends. So as long as I don''t stay with Little Aiwass, we''ve already won.


    "If victory requires a sacrifice at this moment, then it must be me. You two stay here and behave, do not move around."


    As Aiwass spoke, he looked at Sherlock and casually asked: "Ah, by the way, do you have a dagger? I''m nning to take some personal items with me, otherwise, I feel a bit uneasy."


    "...Would a paper cutter do?"


    Sherlock produced a small knife.


    It was a paper cutter carried by a newsboy, hardly a weapon of any significance.


    But it was enough for self-sacrifice. Find the next installment on m-vl-em|p-yr


    Sherlock thought that Fox wanted the knife for suicide after leading the demon away¡ªso at least he could avoid the agony of being disemboweled.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 70: Chapter 43: Then, Aiwass began to hunt _3

    "Alright then,"


    Aiwass took it, "It''s certainly better than nothing."


    "Do you want me to help you? I can make your death a bit more painless."


    "I''d rather die outside, otherwise Lulu will be scared," Aiwass said lightly.


    Of course, he didn''t want the knife tomit suicide.


    As long as he could cut himself and easily use the "Nurturing Skill"... Otherwise, he might have to resort to biting.


    ¡ªYes, the Nurturing Skill.


    The skill "Shepherd''s Nurturing (Flesh)" belonged to the Path of Devotion. It was probably because he had seen the Nurturing Secret Sequel and possessed the Nurturing Skill that the ritual assigned them the "Hook Demon" as an enemy... They believed it possible for them to defeat a formidable foe and find the mastermind behind the scenes.


    It was because the mission''s difficulty took into ount not only the Bone Sculptor and Sherlock but also the Nurturing Skill Aiwass held and his knowledge of demons!


    As long as he sessfully performed the Nurturing Skill, he could control this lower Demon.


    Even the Shadow Demon couldn''t resist Aiwass''s blood... The Hook Demon was far weaker than the Shadow Demon.


    Moreover, the intelligence of the Hook Demon, akin to that of a three-year-old child, was considered particrlycking even among lower demons.


    This Hook Demon hadn''t been specially trained in intelligence; their master clearly didn''t possess such a skill, or didn''t think anyone in Avalon would be familiar with the traits of the Hook Demon.


    After being captured by Sherlock, it only screeched incoherently and didn''t think to use instant transportation to escape the restraint¡ªa feat it could achieve with training and special Enhancement.


    Jack the Ripper had undergone such Enhancement, and therefore, became much more troublesome.


    In the ideal progression, the Hook Demon should have appeared before "Little Aiwass" and then been controlled by Aiwass.


    After Sherlock exercised his Wisdom, gathered everyone, and formed the nine-person group with clear roles, they should have followed the clues of the Hook Demon to find their adversary.


    That would have indeed been an easy difficulty.


    But just as the Bone Sculptor refused to cooperate with them...


    The ritual also failed to determine that Aiwass "didn''t want to expose his possession of the Nurturing Skill"¡ªespecially not in front of Sherlock.


    Because of this, the difficulty was unnecessarily increased by so much.


    After all, the identity of the Fox had to remain clean. This was an outer identity Aiwass deliberately created to be seen through.


    That''s why he deliberately maintained his image in front of the two of them.


    What he needed was to use the identity of the Fox to conceal his other identity from the Path of Transcendence!


    Aiwass was right just now.


    For Sherlock and Lulu, this ritual was already over¡ªthey had achieved victory.


    Ensuring Little Aiwass''s survival and maintaining their cover until the end. The two necessary tasks were practicallypleted.


    But for Aiwass, who sought higher points and the pursuit of truth... his adventure had just begun.


    Aiwass turned his back to the light-pierced door, concealed his killing intent, and nodded with a smile, waving his hand.


    He said his final goodbyes to Sherlock, who had aplex expression, and Lulu, who seemed sad and reluctant, delivering what they believed would be his st words" of Bravery before his sacrifice:


    "Take good care of ''our child,'' Lulu. Sing him another luby; he seems to have a restless sleep as if he''s been disturbed.


    "And Mr. Sherlock, I''lle to find you when I have the time... if I have the time."


    They will definitely be impressed by me.


    ¡ªAnd now, I begin my hunt.


    Aiwass thought to himself.

 Chapter 71: Chapter 44 Are You In Pain? Are You Hungry?

    Aiwass retraced his steps back along the original path.


    Climbing over the barren hills, crossing the filthy river.


    It was a full half-hour after he reached the abandoned warehouse that had stored stones before¡­ Aiwass finally met the curse.


    A severe difort suddenly surged deep within his body.


    It was like having a cold and a fever, his body began to shiver uncontrobly, and he became cold. Soon after, his limbs started to weaken, the breath he exhaled heated up, and his skin began to ache¡ªthis was the subcutaneous nerves starting to be damaged by the curse.


    Such a familiar feeling.


    "...So slow, it onlyes now."


    Aiwass murmured in a low voice, his steps gradually bing slow and heavy.


    He felt his eyes turn red and swollen with pain, and a dull, throbbing ache began to emanate from his head.


    He mockingly said to himself, "It''s almost like a return to childhood."


    This was the "Fever Curse." It was the same curse that he had previously dispelled from Little Aiwass.


    It was also the same curse that Aiwass had suffered from during his childhood.


    This curse was on the same level as the "Toxic Ingestion Curse" that caused Lulu to vomit blood. It was slightly weaker than the "Blood Contamination Curse."


    "...A Demon Schr adept at the curse faction."


    Aiwass was clear about the identity of the other party, "This does not seem like the work of a Star Antimony person."


    A Demon Schr of Star Antimony origin actually excels in Ritual Studies, followed by Demonology.


    Cursing studies aren''t found in official textbooks.


    That''s because even the Star Antimony Kingdom, which allows for the existence of Demon Schrs, wouldn''t wish for someone to easily curse and kill their nobility and officials.


    The Hook Demon is not a particrly useful demon either.


    Its low intelligence and monotonous mode of attack mean that many tedious tasks cannot be entrusted to the lesser demons; and because of its low energy level, Demon Schrs cannot, like Aiwass, sign a pact with a Shadow Demon to gain affinity enhancements to strengthen themselves.


    Generally, the demons that Demon Schrs sign contracts with are stronger than themselves. Otherwise, there would be no point in trading their souls.


    ¡ªWhy would I trade my soul for a temperamental weakling when I could just take on a hardworking and enduring disciple instead?


    This Demon Schr''s proficiency in using a variety of curses indicates that his level must not be low. He would be at least upper second energy level, or even third energy level. But the demon he was contracted to was clearly weak; the fact that he always hid in the shadows and didn''t attack personally suggests that he probably wasn''t proficient in ritual spells like Da Zi.


    Such specialized cursing abilities are characteristic of the Eastern Desert People. During the intense desert wars for control over sacred water sources and oasis regions, a Cursing Sorcerer capable of viciously attacking the enemy''s important figures is an invaluable human resource. Additionally, the scarcity of resources in the desert makes it difficult to gather materials forplex rituals, so Ritual Studies have not developed among the Desert People.


    This also fits the scenario of him working for the mastermind behind the scenes, and aligns with what Jack the Ripper said about his master eventually leaving Avalon for thends east of the desert.


    ¡ªComing from the desert, the Cursing Sorcerer moved to the Kingdom of Avalon. He sought refuge under a certain influential figure, taking money to "curse on their behalf," earning money and benefits by cursing specific targets for a fee. After making enough, he fled back to his country. This is probably the whole truth.


    ...This shows that the influential figure was quitepassionate. Knowing so many of his secrets, yet allowing him to leave without being silenced.


    Of course, he might have been silenced already. It''s just that Jack doesn''t know it.


    This Hook Demon is merely a part of the mature cursing ability system of the actual viin.


    After he weakens his target with curses, he sends the Hook Demon to finish them off with a decisive blow. The Hook Demon is merely his ability to finish off enemies, but it''s not the core of his powers.


    ¡ªNo wonder he didn''t bother to specially cultivate the Hook Demon.


    He has the knowledge, but he didn''t do it himself.


    Because there is no need.


    This demon is essentially an expendable tool¡ªas seen from the fact that he could casually abandon it to a student he had barely met.


    If he were to cherish the demon as Jack the Ripper did and used rituals to strengthen the Hook Demon, it could lead to bing too well-known.


    While after the Hook Demon was enhanced, Jack could temporarily project his consciousness into the Hook Demon, using his own mind to control this demon that is indeed stupid but also substantially strong and causes high damage.


    But there is a risk with this enhancement ritual.


    Because for a Cursing Sorcerer, being well-known is not a good thing. Just like Sherlock lifting his own curse... when a person knows they will be cursed, the curse is not so frightening. Because different curses have their own solutions.


    The most sessful and victorious state for a Cursing Sorcerer remains unknown.


    "Death by ident" is the highest praise.


    "So... this is how my biological parents died."


    Experience more magic at m v l e mpyr


    Aiwass murmured.


    The increasingly severe fever made his thoughts drift, but his memories were gradually straightened out.


    Based on the Jack the Ripper case, there must have been the duo of the Cursing Sorcerer and the Hook Demon in the real history as well.


    Aiwass was cursed with the "fever curse" when he was a child, causing him to faint and lose consciousness. Hence, he could not remember what happened afterward.


    But as a fragile child, suddenly falling unconscious from the high fever, yet not dying from it¡ªthere could only be one answer: his curse had been lifted by someone.


    The difference is, the one who lifted the curse should not have been Julio, but rather Bishop Mathers.


    In real history, he wouldn''t have been banned from the replica because his level was too high above it, so Julio could have had ess to Mathers.


    This also incidentally exins why Mathers was so concerned with Aiwass, so enthusiastic upon their first meeting... even willing to lend him the key to the chapel. He imed it was to repay Professor Moriarty for his assistance, but the real reason was likely Julio.


    Upon their first meeting, he recognized Aiwass was the child of his student, Giulio Alexander, because Aiwass bore the unmistakable traces of "Julio" and "Annie."


    He felt regret and sorrow for not having saved his student back then. To avoid making the same mistake, he resolved to protect Aiwass at all costs.


    From his attitude, Aiwass could deduce the reverse¡ªthat it was precisely because Bishop Mathers thought he could solve the incident but ultimately didn''t seed, that he felt such regret.


    Then,bining this with the requirement of the current mission.


    They needed to leave the great cathedral and head for Judiciary Square.


    ¡ªThe name of this ce could not appear out of nowhere. And it certainly couldn''t be the location of the Cursing Sorcerer because there was no room to set up aplex ritual tform. Therefore, it could only be rted to the death of Aiwass''s biological parents.


    That is to say, after the curse on Aiwass by Julio was lifted, Julio went to Judiciary Square for some reason.


    And by that time, Aiwass had already fallen asleep, so he was unaware of what happened afterwards.


    The rest of the story must be simr to what''s happening now.


    The difference, probably, is that the other ceremonial participants unrted to Aiwass''s family were not cursed by that Cursing Sorcerer¡ªjust as Annie in the correct history, couldn''t possibly be the Transcendent of the Path of Beauty; of course, there wouldn''t be a newsboy who was a mage. On ss Ind, it would be impossible for there to be so many Transcendents from different Paths.


    Only Aiwass''s family was likely cursed.


    Some of them might have been cursed and killed first, or they might have been cursed together. Ultimately, the sleeping Little Aiwass was set aside, while the two of them drew the enemy away.


    This illustrated one thing. The killer''s target wasn''t Aiwass or his cousin¡ªit was Julio or Annie, which is why Aiwass could survive and be safely delivered to the orphanage.


    Now there was just one question left.


    ¡ªWhy would he want to kill his own parents?


    "It seems I need to ask him in person¡­"


    Aiwass said softly, his downcast gaze turning somber, "I wasn''t nning to do this originally.


    "But you are too ipetent.


    "What an inconvenience. I gave you so much time, yet you started cursing me only when the ritual was nearly over¡­"


    ¡ªCould it still be trying to kill the Bone Sculptor?


    He stared intently at a corner of the abandoned stone warehouse, where crimson traces were gathering.


    The Hook Demon''s terrifyingly red silhouette was partially revealed, and Aiwass saw it grinning at him with a malicious smile, each of its four arms gripping a slender iron hook, capable of easily ripping through flesh.


    And it bore clear signs of frostbite and frost colors, the marks of having been damaged by the abilities of the Path of Dusk.


    "Ah, hello there, child¡­"


    Aiwass politely greeted it, showing no trace of fear or disgust.


    He slowly asked, "Does it hurt?


    "Are you... hungry?"


    Without waiting for the Hook Demon to fully appear, or for it to react, Aiwass quickly drew out a paper cutter.


    Taking the initiative, he sharply thrust it into his own neck!


    ¡ªBlood spurted out!

 Chapter 72: Person Behind the Scene 45

    At this moment, there was less than an hour left until the end of the ritual.


    To be precise, there were only twenty minutes left.


    Even if Aiwass could control the Hook Demon to lead the way, it was already toote.


    Not to mention how horrifying it would be to have that thing ride in a carriage, even if he found a way to take one, there was no time to get there.


    The ritual had a reserved time of four hours, and Little Aiwass had been cursed upon entering.


    Calcting based on the "ideal situation" projected by the Pir God that created the dream, Aiwass should have immediately taken Lulu and left the cathedral to head directly to Judiciary Square, which was a half-hour journey away.


    Upon arrival, the Hook Demon made its first appearance. After coborating with Sherlock to repel it, they had a little over three hours left to gatherpanions, follow the Hook Demon to find the culprit, and defeat them. This was where Sherlock''s wisdom came into y.


    This indicated that their enemy''s location was not that easy to find. It might require the reasoning of the Path of Wisdom to locate.


    However, Aiwass felt his own brain was quite useful and thought he should be able to find it with the Hook Demon leading the way.


    The only miscalction Aiwass had was that this enemy was rather stubborn.


    After trying to attack the Bone Sculptor once, the Cursing Sorcerer was not yet disheartened and decided to send the Hook Demon to try again.


    But this time, instead of defeating him, the Hook Demon was wounded. This proved that the "Bone Sculptor" was indeed a very powerful Transcendent and was likely the muscle of their team. This directly led to Aiwass being attacked when time was almost up.


    This should have been good news. It meant he only needed to evade a bit longer, and he could oust the clock and win.


    However, what Aiwass wanted was to strike back.


    Even if he couldn''t identify the mastermind behind the scenes, at the very least he wanted to see for himself what the Cursing Sorcerer looked like.


    ...So now, he could only hope for "possibility."


    He had one chance left to meet the Cursing Sorcerer in less than twenty minutes.


    Not by teleportation, because Aiwass had no means to curse the Cursing Sorcerer in return.


    ¡ªIt was through a counter-summoning instead.


    After the Hook Demonpleted its task, it would be recalled by the Cursing Sorcerer. Just as it had been when it failed to attack Lulu before.


    Suddenly appearing before that Cursing Sorcerer could certainly be considered a kind of "instant movement."


    All Aiwass needed to do was, like Jack the Ripper, merge his own spirit with that of the Hook Demon.


    The ritual particrly emphasized that there was no need to survive.


    So, he might as well conduct an experiment right now.


    An experiment that definitely wasn''t a loss, even if it failed... an experiment that couldn''t be performed in reality.


    ¡ªHow strong could the "Shepherd''s Nurturing," a voluntary sacrifice of one''splete life, truly be?


    Without any auxiliary materials and not being strong himself, could a high-efficiency self-sacrifice match the Enhancement that Jack the Ripper''s serial killing ritual had provided the Hook Demon?


    In any case...


    "Feed in Silence, mymb."


    Watching the Hook Demon, whose eyes were widened and fixed on himself, Aiwass spoke softly, gripping the paper knife, "I am the sacrament, this is mercy."


    He had no anointing oils at hand to infuse with Mana, and in his hand was a paper cutter, not a pure silver Ritual Dagger.


    It was as if the seasoning spices that vor a feast were missing. The decoration was missing, too.


    But if the food itself is delicious and plentiful, its natural vor is enough to captivate.


    Moreover, it was not an arrogant Upper-Level Demon that was enjoying the feast but merely a despicable Hook Demon born from the shredded embryonic souls entangled in iron hooks.


    It was a little demon that had wrestled out of the hatred for a predestined death, and had been born from the will to defy "its non-existence," filled with hatred and anger.


    It had no pride to speak of.


    "Feast on the blood from my neck, drink thirstily as if it were sweet wine¡ª"


    With a loud chant, Aiwass opened himself up as if unzipping a zipper.


    ¡ªFrom the left to the right, he firmly slit his own throat with the paper knife.


    What he had cut was the artery above his corbone.


    Immediately, Aiwass''s consciousness began to blur, and his vision darkened.


    Yet, his brain seemed to be clearer, as if time itself had slowed down.


    Discover new content at m vl-em,py-r


    He keenly felt how swiftly his life was draining away. But it wasn''t life retreating from the flesh into the void... instead, the soul with its fiery Mana, following the blood from his neck, gushed out in a crystallized form.


    Dong¡ª


    "...He must have killed himself."


    As the Death Knell sounded, Sherlock spoke gravely.


    Lulu nodded sadly.


    Within the abandoned warehouse, "Julio''s" lifeless body tipped backward and fell heavily.


    But his blood did not drench the surrounding earth; instead, it shot up against thews of physics like a fountain.


    It wasn''t even a liquid, but rather rubies flying into the sky, solidifying into red pearls.


    Making sounds of yearning like a hastily feeding puppy or kitten, the Hook Demon''s face cleared of anger and ferocity, showing nothing but the purest greed and obsession.


    The sparkling beads of blood flew towards it,nding on its body.


    The Hook Demon greedily consumed.


    The frostbite on its body receded at a visible rate, its stature gradually swelling. From the size of a hunting dog, it grew to the size of a human teenager and then to that of an adult.


    The wet redness on its body, like blood, slowly faded, revealing a white and smooth skin, marred only by crimson lines like suture marks. Even its four arms grew some muscle, while the four rusty iron hooks, covered in blood, had vanished from sight.

 Chapter 73: Chapter 45 Person Behind the Scene_2

    Its visage was grotesque and ugly, the facial features on its enormous skullpletely misced. Its four arms pointed in different directions.


    The size and thickness of its six limbs, even the joints and orientation, were all wholly disparate. It crouched low on the ground, resembling a disjointed human drawn by an abstract painter.


    Its bewildered yet hate-filled eyes became a touch clearer, revealing a hint of damaged humanity.


    That anger and hatred had settled into a more tangible sorrow and abhorrence.


    It quicklypped up the blood.


    While whimpering, it squatted on the ground, lying on Aiwass''s corpse, continuing to lick the bloody wound on the neck of Aiwass''s body.


    As itpped, it suddenly howled mournfully at the sky, emitting a roar akin to a wolf baying at the moon.


    Then, as if making up its mind, it began to gnaw on the corpse of Aiwass.


    When Aiwass gradually awoke from that chaos, he saw a crimson-stained ground where his own body had disappeared.


    His perspective had now be that of the Hook Demon.


    ¡ªOr rather, the evolved "Aberrant Limb Demon."


    It was a demon born from the souls of those who died persecuted due to their congenital deformities, harboring a profound hatred for almost the entire "normal" poption.


    This was already an Upper-Level Demon.


    An elite above level forty, barely less than ten levels below the Shadow Demon.


    While it had lost the ability to move instantly around the cursed, it possessed an almost undead vitality, formidable strength and speed, as well as the ability to reshape its six aberrant limbs at will with arbitrary temporary restructuring.


    And equally low intelligence.


    Aiwass was sharply aware of the seemingly endless vitality within him, as well as the surging power like the sea, and his three vigorously pumping hearts.


    He now had the confidence that even if the "current self" was shredded by a chainsaw or repeatedly crushed by a boulder, it would not die easily.


    However, the ecstasy, joy, sadness, and hatred from the "Aberrant Limb Demon" were also continuously transmitted, proving it had not died when Aiwass took over. Instead, it had willingly be hispanion...


    ...and "bearer."


    Carying Aiwass''s soul like a turtle, until he found the opportunity to be reborn.


    "So using the Nurturing Skill to feed oneself wholly to a demon results in a temporary fusion with the demon?"


    He lowered his body, and with two mouths, made an unclear, moist, deep sound: "Its ''nourishment'' is even sufficient to enable a lower demon to directly evolve into an upper demon..."


    No wonder demons follow the "Shepherd." For those on the path of Transcendence, this is indeed an irresistible temptation.


    ording to the normal evolutionary route, to evolve from a Hook Demon to an Aberrant Limb Demon, even using Jack the Ripper''s extreme cultivation method, it would probably take several years.


    Aiwass had originally thought that growing enough to withstand ten rituals would be sufficient, but he had vastly underestimated the impact of the Art of Herding and the "willingly sacrificed offering."


    It was not that the Shadow Demon was greedy.


    It was that he truly was enticing...


    The head with its featurespletely misced, even with three eyes, had each eye looking in a different direction. Adapting to this unique new perspective and slowly getting used to the instinct of using its "aberrant limbs."


    After a while, he finally heard the somewhat urgent call of his "master."


    "...William? William? Good, you''ve made e back quickly if all goes well, good boy! Be careful not to make too much noise, don''t expose yourself¡ª"


    The hideous demon lying on the ground revealed a terrifying and ghastly smile.


    "Woo ah¡ªwa¡ª"


    He mimicked the sounds of the Hook Demon, emitting baby-like cries and puppy-like whimpers as a nonsensical response.


    The Cursing Sorcerer on the other end did not expect this.


    "Hey, hey, stop yelling. I''m pulling you back now, don''t move around too much..."


    He unguardedly initiated the counter-summoning spell.


    The space around him seemed misced, splintering. It was like experiencing weightlessness and overpowering gravity in an elevator, except the "direction" of that sensation came from behind.


    As if suddenly dragged "backwards" by a tremendous force, he was whisked far behind.


    Appearing suddenly in front of Aiwass was a middle-aged man of around fifty, with sallow brown skin and each of his ten fingers adorned withrge gemstone rings.


    He looked slightly overweight with a round belly and a modest hunchback. His ck curly hair was slightly greasy, and his small eyes were dark and concentrated, showing little white of the eye. If not for hisvish attire, his features would only remind one of a simple, good-natured viger. Even with his costly appearance, he only resembled a wealthy ruralndowner.


    "William, very well..."


    The Cursing Sorcerer habitually tried to calm the Hook Demon.


    But when he saw clearly the twisted demon that emerged from the Ritual Array, low on the ground like a spider, hisplexion suddenly froze.


    Fear petrified his face, his whole body immobilized, making him resemble a mute stone statue.


    This is...


    ¡ª¡ª the Aberrant Limb Demon?!


    How could the breed of a demon change so suddenly?!


    Or could it be... Is it really William?


    Or did another Demon Schr snatch and modify William''s contract, controlling the Aberrant Limb Demon to transmit here following the reverse summoning ritual¡ª¡ª


    But he had no time to think further.


    Aiwass, manipting the Aberrant Limb Demon, extracted a warped, misced limb from itself at a speed invisible to the naked eye.


    What looked like a normal "right hand" suddenly stretched rapidly¡ª¡ªbing only two centimeters thick, yet growing to a little over two meters in length as a razor-sharp w.


    The ghastly w, skeletal in appearance, caught his face and pushed him against the wall, then slowly lifted.


    "Who are you..."


    The voice of the Aberrant Limb Demon was a blur. It was as ifing from a nightmare.


    It can talk...?


    The Cursing Sorcerer, with his face frozen in fear, now looked as if he was about to cry.


    With both hands, he tightly held the "right hand" of the Aberrant Limb Demon, trying not to have his throat ripped open by its sheer weight.


    To make an Aberrant Limb Demon speak so clearly...


    ...have I encountered a senior?


    "State your name..."


    The Aberrant Limb Demon repeated the question.


    Its stretched limb slowly exerted force, like a steel mp about to crush the Cursing Sorcerer''s skull.


    Under the excruciating pain, the Cursing Sorcerer could not help but scream out:


    "¡ª¡ªAziz! Aziz Ben Abdul¡ª¡ªsave me... senior, spare me!"


    But the Aberrant Limb Demon did not let go.


    Instead, it increased the pressure, feeling the "skull in its hand" gradually deform, emitting cracking sounds.


    "Who do you work for..." the Aberrant Limb Demon asked in a different, sharper tone of voice.


    "¡ª¡ªMoriarty! It is Professor James Moriarty!"


    Crying out in agony, the Cursing Sorcerer named Aziz did not hesitate to betray his own employer: "It has nothing to do with me, I''m just paid to do a job¡ª¡ªspare me, senior, my lord, please, it wasn''t me... spare me! Save me¡ª¡ªsave¡ª¡ª"


    Spurt¡ª¡ª


    The limb extended by the Aberrant Limb Demon effortlessly crushed the Cursing Sorcerer''s head.


    It was as simple as crushing a tomato.


    ¡ª¡ªEven if everything in the ritual were a sham, Aiwass had no intention of sparing him.


    "This is just a little interest, Aziz. I hope you didn''t die."


    The voice of the Aberrant Limb Demon was muffled: "I remember you...


    "I will find you."


    Having obtained such crucial information so easily, Aiwass felt he should probably be pleased.


    He had confirmed the limits of the "Nurturing Skill" without any cost, and he finished everything he wanted to do before the end of the ritual... he should indeed be in a mood for celebration.


    But at that moment, he did not quite feel like rejoicing.


    What soured Aiwass''s mood was a name he heard from the Cursing Sorcerer Aziz, one he didn''t particrly want to hear... yet it was something he had anticipated.


    ¡ª¡ªJames Moriarty. Stay tuned with m,v le,mpyr


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 74: Chapter 46: Shipment Made!

    ss Ind, White Queen District.


    In a pure white room on the second floor of the Brown Hotel, a well-dressed, genteel young gentleman leisurely savored a freshly seared steak in his room.


    Standing by his table was a spirit maid in her soul state. She had a translucent white spectral body that appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, and her attire resembled that of the "Fox," both wearing white priest robes without the mitre. The only solid part of her was her spine, and through her translucent white form, one could barely make out the pale color of her backbone.


    Suddenly, the girl leaned down and whispered something into the gentleman''s ear. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.


    However, the gentleman reacted as if he had heard something, raising his eyebrows and taking out a gold pocket watch encrusted with gems from his chest. He flipped it open.


    "It''s almost over, eh?"


    After ncing at the time, he put the watch away and stuffed the remaining small piece of steak into his mouth.


    He chewed vigorously, with meat juice seeping out. Some of the tougher sinews made a crunching noise as he chewed them, but thanks to his good teeth, he ground the meat and swallowed it.


    The young gentleman muttered to himself with a mix of satisfaction and reluctance, "I really hate to part with such a young and healthy body..."


    Meanwhile.


    In the room below the gentleman''s, a maid who bore a resemnce to a newsboy cleaned the room in a leisurely fashion, sighing with some worry.


    "It''s finally ending¡­ what a torture. It''s really too horrific."


    Elsewhere, Sherlock, hiding with Lulu in the abandoned chemical nt along with Her Royal Highness, had nomon topics at hand and thus maintained a polite yet somewhat awkward silence.


    He focused on the sun as it slowly climbed to its zenith and suddenly said, "It''s about time."


    "What?"


    Lulu asked subconsciously while holding a child, then quickly realized and perked up, "Is the ritual about to end?"


    "There are four survivors left. Those two haven''t died until the very end."


    Sherlock said quietly, "''Bone Sculptor''... Lars Graham, is it? I''ll look into him."


    "If it''s not¡ªdon''t say I told you!"


    Lulu whispered nervously.


    The newsboy sighed.


    "My respected princess," he saidnguidly, "Normally, even if I did mention it, he wouldn''t know it was you. I know ''Lulu,'' not ''Isabel Du Lac.''"


    "...Eh?" Lulu, who had been earnestly ying the role of "Annie Alexander," was suddenly taken aback as her real name was revealed.


    "Master Yanis is being far too irresponsible. Although a failure in the first advancement ritual carries no punishment, and with your noble status, you do not fear your real identity being discovered, I think some basic knowledge still needs to be taught in advance. Not all setbacks have their meaning¡ªespecially when the setbacks you''ve faced have been numerous."


    The newsboy adjusted his newsboy cap, looked down, and spoke indifferently, "I will report to Her Majesty the Queen in great detail about this ritual, including the unusually difficult nature of this ritual, information about the ''Bone Sculptor,'' the ''Knight,'' the ''Fox,'' and ''Coco,'' as well as matters between you and Mr. Fox. Of course, this also includes the mistakes you made in this ritual¡ªI have them all memorized without missing a single detail.


    "This time is an exception. But remember... from the second advancement ritual onwards, failure and death in the ritual wille with a price.


    "I am one of the rare Transcendents of the Path of Wisdom in Avalon. Unless there is an unexpected turn of events, Her Majesty the Queen may entrust me to advance alongside you and protect you during the ritual. I hope that the next time we meet, you will have somewhat corrected your naively reckless behavior."


    Having said this, the newsboy gazed into "Annie Alexander''s" somewhat flustered and bewildered eyes, pondering for a moment.


    Then he added, "I''ll try to investigate the real identity of the ''Fox'' for you. But don''t get your hopes up too high; my priority for the next while will be on the ''Sweater Brothers Association'' and the ''Bone Sculptor.''


    "...Eh? Then, then thank you, Mr. Sherlock¡­"


    Although Lulu didn''t know when she had been exposed, it was not surprising to be found out by the renowned Mr. Sherlock Hermes. So, she wasn''t overly shocked.


    But when Sherlock mentioned he would help investigate the "Fox" for her, she still felt a touch of embarrassment. However, she didn''t refuse.


    Seeing this, Sherlock sighed again and said nothing more.


    At that moment, a burst of light suddenly appeared before everyone''s eyes¡ª it was the pure white brilliance that shes when the world copses and disintegrates.


    Both the dead and the surviving participants of the ritual saw a session of ever-changing images before their eyes.


    A young priest with ck hair and blue eyes pressed his hand against the back of a child''s neck, his palm emitting light;


    A gravely injured young Inspector, with his guts spilled by the Hook Demon, turned his back to fleeing civilians, holding the short sword symbolizing the authority ofw and radiating pure white light, still standing his ground;


    The green w of a water demon tightly grasped the Hook Demon, hissing with white smoke. The Hook Demon, with a vicious face, seemed to be screaming something;


    An hourss was thrown into the air, emitting a yellowish light, and pure white smoke curled out from it, wrapping around the hourss and forming a blurry, translucent ghost of a young girl;


    The young priest held a box cutter, determined and fearless, using it to slit his own throat;


    A dark-skinned fatty, whose entire head was grasped by a pale, withered right hand, his facial fat and terrified, trembling eyes slipping through the fingers;


    Annie Alexander held Little Aiwass, still in the throes of sleep, under the setting sun, her face a blend of sorrow and fortitude.


    ¡ªIn the next moment, the view before her, along with the entire world around her, began to turn to sand.


    Everything in front of her dissipated like sand in the wind.


    The grains of sand flew into the air, then reversed course, drawn back into the glowing giant hourss.


    Aiwass awoke and gathered hisplex emotions. He decided first to probe with indirect questions before jumping to any conclusions.


    After all, the information given during the ritual might not be entirely correct... right?


    ...But as much as he said that, he actually already had a simr suspicion in his mind.


    It was something he had anticipated.


    Aiwass sighed and looked up, only to find himself once again in the guise of the "Faceless Priest," seated upon his frighteninglyrge chair.


    But before him was no longer pitch darkness, nor were there eight other chairs and participants of the ritual.


    Instead, there was light.


    It was like the first time he ascended, a bright world devoid of a single shadow.


    Screens of light swiftly descended before his eyes, showing Aiwass''s points tally:


    [Mandatory Mission Completed (Points: 600)]


    [Self-Preservation: Ensure your own survival (Iplete)]


    [Heart is the Sanctuary: Choose not to hide within the Cathedral of Candle Master, take the initiative to go to Judiciary Square (Points: 100)]


    [My Unforgotten Nature: Heal those destined to die (Points: 100)]


    [Once and for All: Find and kill the killer (Points: 500)]


    [My Favorite Jasmine: Ensure the survival of your wife, Annie Alexander (Points: 500)]


    [Live Longer: Among the nine ritualists, survive as long as possible, or at least dieter (Points: 100)]


    [The Beginning of Everything: Find the mastermind behind the scenes (Points: 1000)]


    [Total Points 2900, Ranking First]


    The familiar figure of a stag, as transparent and pure as a ruby, emerged again in the distance.


    Its blood fell to the ground, igniting red mes where its hoofprintsnded.


    It approached Aiwass once more and gently licked his cheek.


    The ck thorns around its neck pierced Aiwass''s cheek, leaving an almost invisible wound that oozed ck blood¡ª


    Three words materialized before Aiwass''s eyes.


    [Light Affinity LV1 (Blue): You were scratched by the Sin Thorn of the Candle Master and gleaned a bit of the essence of light.]


    He hadn''t yet had a chance to see if the remaining two lines expanded on the entry, as the two lines of blue and white text werepletely incinerated by the ck mes.


    Two beams of purple radiance erupted, emitting a deep hum.


    This all too familiar sound made Aiwass''s eyes widen and he immediately became alert.


    ¡ªJackpot!


    He hit the jackpot on his first ascension!


    And two at that!


    ...Could it be that the ranking of points really determines the quality of the rewards?


    That''s not a setting in the game... but it actually makes more sense this way.


    Though it seemed more like a setting that should have always been there, possibly cut for the sake of fairness...


    Aiwass''s eyes flew open as he caught sight of two rare lines of purple text:


    [Vessel of ze and Brilliance (Purple): Fire springs from light, and light floats atop fire. Your soul is nourished by both.]


    [Tainted Light LV1 (Purple): No light is absolutely pure, just like the human heart. You attempt to infuse deadly poison into your own light.]

 Chapter 75: Chapter 47 Rare Trait: Vessel of Blaze and Brilliance

    Although he couldn''t see the effects now, Aiwass had long memorized the effects of these two rare skill effects.


    Helping friends grind through advancement dungeons, he could recite the random skill effects that popped up...


    Good deeds bring good karma.


    "Tainted Light" is a high-tier skill effect that, in theory, can be fully activated three times.


    Its effect is such that when a spell that exclusively uses Light Attribute Mana deals damage, it adds an additional third of that damage as poison damage. Upon activating this skill effect a second time, another third as cold damage is granted. When activated for a third time, it adds yet another third as shadow damage.


    If one were to fully activate this skill effect all three times, they would end up with a straightforward 100% bonus damage. Additionally, because the bonus damage isposed of three different damage types, it''s not easily negated by attribute resistances.


    However, this Path of Devotion attribute is also quite limiting in use.


    It only activates with spells that consume pure Light Attribute Mana, and the spells must be of the damaging kind.


    The "Priest" career within the Path of Devotion doesn''t have any direct damage skills.


    In the whole Path of Devotion, only "Temple Guardian Monk" and "Fire Worshiper" have attack spells. Thetter''s spells are almost entirely fire-attributed, with just a few attack spells made of pure Light Attribute Mana.


    Although once the "Light Affinity" is activated, Priests do gain an energy-based auto-attack ability... this path feature is generally chosen by "Temple Guardian Monks."


    After advancing to "Lion of Sakyamuni" at level fifty, this career can ess a key feature allowing the use of all non-Dark Attribute spells below the third energy level exclusively with Light Attribute Mana, converting all inflicted damage to Light damage, and gaining spell effect pration through Light Attribute resistance.


    Paired with the ss''s low-level instant cast spell "Lion''s Roar," and the fully stacked "Tainted Light" attribute, this creates the premiere build of version 4.2, the notorious "Tainted Lion''s Roar" school of y¡ªtranting the additional 100% damage boost entirely back to Light damage,bined with innate Light Attribute resistance pration, results in an extremely powerful pure DPS career, with high sustained damage,plete control, burst capability, and all of it being area of effect damage.


    In various point-defense and speed-clear type of events, this school of yer is very popr.


    And the officials did not nerf this school of y; they didn''t change any values. Their bncing method was very straightforward¡ª


    They substantially reduced the frequency at which point-defense and speed-clear events appeared, while temporarily increasing the frequency of siege activities.


    Because this career wasn''t ideal for sieges.


    The Lion of Sakyamuni''s damage conversion and resistance pration were limited to minor skills. The major skills used during sieges still dealt mixed damage, and not benefiting from resistance pration. Coupled with the poison resistance bosses typically boast, the end result was definitely less than a 33% increase.


    What truly caught Aiwass''s attention, however, was the second path feature.


    Unlike the Path of Devotion''s "Tainted Light,"


    this skill effect wasn''t exclusive to the Path of Devotion but was a universal purple rare skill effect.


    It was also a container-type skill effect, but it only appeared on careers that could acquire two types of attribute mana at the same time upon leveling up.


    Not more, not less, exactly two types of mana.


    For instance, Mages who receive four types of elemental mana¡ªwind, earth, water, fire¡ªupon leveling up, and Demon Schrs who only receive Dark Attribute Mana, would never roll this skill effect¡ªunless they made a pact with a "me Demon" or simr demon, thus bncing their acquisition of both fire and Dark Mana.


    Its effect was simple and practical: it increased the level of both container skill effects by one.


    This also meant that it could be used to freeload a container skill effect or to elevate a container skill effect that was normally capped at LV3 forcibly to LV4.


    Transcendents had a limited number of advancements, so skill effects that saved an advancement were valuable.


    The strongest Transcendents in the current version were only in their forties, which ced them at the fifth energy level¡ªthe so-called fifth energy level, meaning they possessed five path features, corresponding to their path''s skill effects.


    Apart from the Path of Wisdom, which gains double mana upon leveling up, other spellcasting Transcendents typically had to pick one or two container-type skill effects, so at the very least, they wouldn''t be at a loss.


    Because for spellcasting sses, the mana granted from leveling up was simply not sufficient.


    The mana rule is such that in the first ten levels each increase granted one point, from level 11 to 20 was two points per level, from 21 to 30 was three points per level... and so on. Multi-color careers added points in sequence without decimals.


    For non-spellcasting careers, their mana became increasingly abundant... but for spellcasterscking an auto-attack, mana was never enough.


    "Elemental Affinity" refers to the Mage''s manaless auto-attack. Although it could reach up to three levels, few careers would go for it.


    Healers, in general, were typically short on mana.


    The intensity of dungeon battles was bound to escte.


    "Illumination" and "Rite of Fire" required burning vast amounts of Light Attribute Mana to maintain, with Illumination needing a point of Fire Attribute Mana as an igniter with each activation.


    When selected, the container skill effect granted 14 mana the first time, 28 the second, and 42 the third.


    Fully stacking it three times would result in an additional 84 mana points¡ªsuch a mana reserve could sustain healing for an entire high-intensity battle on its own, nearly enough to revive a dozen or so people on the brink of death with severed limbs or internal injuries.

 Chapter 76: Chapter 47 Rare Trait: Vessel of Blaze and Brilliance_2

    But even so, if teammatespletely fail to avoid any mechanics and take all the damage head-on, it''s certain that there''s noing back from that.


    After all, having maxed out three Container traits, it could at most refill fourteen tubes of health.


    Moreover, this means that he cannot choose any "Affinity ss" traits to gain offensive capabilities before level thirty, nor can he select any rare traits.


    The choice of Path attributes, in some cases, matters even more than the advancement of the profession itself.


    Purple rare traits and golden mythic traits, which be avable after level fifty, can permanently change the form of a skill.


    Take for instance the [Universal Salvation] from the Path of Devotion, a must-have for nearly every Priest.


    It is a purple attribute that turns all single-target buff spells into group effects while halving their duration.


    Since it only reduces duration without diminishing effects, this is highly effective for team battles.


    In addition to this, priests can alsopensate for the lost duration with the general Path attribute [State Dy], which doubles the duration of all state skills; or they can improve their non-instant healing powers through the Path of Adaptation''s [Origin of Life], enhancing their healing amount by a third and reducing the healing cycle by a third, which provides greater healing output from Illumination Art in a given time and effectively saves Mana; or they can use [Body of Light] from the Path of Devotion to add an extra one and a half times Mana consumption, to shift to using the entire body to release "Illumination," transforming Illumination Art into a movable, long-range, group healing capability that doesn''t require sustained close guidance, thus further enhancing the groupbat capability.


    But a level fifty Priest could only choose five from this plethora of options, plus a given Container or Affinity.


    Because everyone''s preferences differ, leading to different Path attributes, the characters they build are alsopletely unique.


    What''s to be feared is not knowing the effects of Path attributes, hence choosing wrong. Or regretting halfway, or not knowing which Path to take anymore.


    But unlike other Transcendents who have no clue about what Path they''ll take in their future, Aiwass always has a clear goal and knows how to reach it.


    This allows him to ensure that every advancement is worthwhile!


    ¡ª¡ªI choose the second one.


    Aiwass mused to himself.


    After Aiwass chose the "Vessel of ze and Brilliance," the other two options shattered.


    He felt the minor cut on his face that had just been made, heal remarkably quickly. A warm current flowed into his body along with the invisible seeds of light.


    The Candle Master nodded at him slightly and then turned and left.


    Aiwass felt an increasingly surging warmth inside his body; looking down, he noticed his skin bing translucent and gradually starting to shimmer with light.


    As a firefly does, a fire and light ignited within him¡ª¡ª


    And when the light in his chest became overwhelmingly bright, Aiwass suddenly awoke from his dream, drenched in sweat.


    He was still seated in his wheelchair, and outside the sun had just risen. He had slept for less than six hours.


    As soon as Aiwass opened his eyes, his attribute panel appeared before him with changes to indicate that his advancement was sessful:


    Priest LV10: [Basic Prayer-2nd level (3%)], [Rite of Fire-2nd level (5%)], [Illumination-2nd level (15%)], [Blessing-2nd level (0%)], [Shepherd''s Nurturing (flesh)-2nd level (10%)]


    Mana Pool: 22/22 (Light), 5/5 (Darkness), 44/44 (Fire)


    Path attributes¡ª¡ª


    Dedication-Vessel of ze and Brilliance: Light arises from fire, and fire floats upon light. Your soul is nourished by both. Your "me Container" and "Light Container" levels increase by one.


    Dedication-Light Container LV1: You ingested the Blood of the Candle Master, and your soul has been expanded. The maximum capacity of your Mana Pool (Light) increases by 14.


    Dedication-me Container LV2: You ingested the flesh of the Candle Master, and your soul has been further expanded. The maximum capacity of your Mana Pool (Fire) increases by 42.


    Aiwass took a deep breath.


    He felt incredibly reassured.


    With the "Vessel of ze and Brilliance," the minimum guarantee was enough!


    ¡ª¡ªRegardless of whether he gets the "container" trait next time he advances or not, Aiwass is definitely going to gather enough mana toplete the production of the first nk Card before level 20!


    No, or rather¡ªhe doesn''t need the blue Path trait of me Container at all anymore.


    Next time, he can grab a rare trait to strengthen himself!


    "...That being said, I still have to try to get first ce in the next full moon ritual," Aiwass murmured, "But, to think there''s an instant rey during the settlement phase..."


    This was an important reminder.


    Very timely.


    Fortunately, each "highlight" is just a moment, so others probably can''t understand what he did.


    So, next time he would have to be even more cautious in his actions and not reveal too much¡ªwhile still scoring high?


    Although he was not certain how much the score ranking contributed to the enhancement of rare traits, Aiwass was pretty sure there was definitely a probability bonus. Otherwise, getting two purples in the first advancement ritual would be too frightening.


    Generally, a Transcendent''s first two traits could only be blue container or Affinity traits, and yers often couldn''t be bothered to grind¡ªafter all, you have to take "Affinity" and "container" a few times, so it''s better to get them early on.


    And the material for rerolling traits, "Heart of Reformation," has to be obtained through in-game purchases.


    Because grinding for Path traits is both time-consuming and costly, even though this trait system, simr to that of a Rogue, offers high yability and possibilities, the game designer''s ''dearest mother'' is still frequently orbiting at the speed of the first universe outside the atmosphere.


    Aiwass also originally thought he would have to rely on chance, and at that time, he felt quite pessimistic¡ªafter all, he didn''t know how to obtain this in-game purchase item for washing away Path traits in reality.


    It sounded extremely rare just by the name.


    But as hepleted an entire ritual, he suddenly realized something¡ª


    Wait, isn''t the ritual in the game a castrated version?


    Not only does the advancement ritualck any storyline, you justnd and fight a random BOSS... and the loot is random too.


    At most, there''s a "weekly UP" given by the game designer, which could slightly increase the probability of getting certain Path traits.


    Experience new stories with m v|-NovelBin


    But the three traits Aiwass got... they don''t seem all that random.


    The opportunity he got to choose the "Light Affinity" trait was probably rted to his evidentck ofbat ability at critical moments¡ªif Aiwass were a native without the ability of a Prophet, he might have realized his own fragility during the ritual and thus chosen the [Light Affinity] trait to gainbat strength.


    The trait "Vessel of ze and Brilliance" was clearly because Aiwass drained his entire Mana Pool at the moment of death.


    Simrly, he might have felt ack of mana, and thus chosen this trait... even though the depletion of his mana wasn''t due to casting spells, but rather from using the "Nurturing Skill" to burn it off all at once. However, this judgment mechanism clearly didn''t recognize the difference.


    As for "Tainted Light," it is highly likely rted to some of Aiwass''s slightly unorthodox actions. His soul briefly merged with a Demon, and he even took the initiative to kill.


    But the existence of "Nurturing Skill" does indeed make this behavior in line with the Path of Devotion, reasonable and justifiable.


    So this advancement ritual might assume that Aiwass should belong to "the more unorthodox followers of the Path of Devotion," hence kindly offering him a simr unorthodox Path trait and asking if he wanted to switch to damage output.


    Apart from the rarity, these three traits are essentially Path traits "customized ording to Aiwass''s personal style" by the advancement ritual.


    Pretty smart.


    ¡ª¡ªSo that means, one''s actions and evaluation during the ritual could potentially influence the category of Path traits one randomly gets?


    Aiwass fell into deep thought.


    Maybe he should conduct an experiment during the New Moon Ritual next month to verify it?


    Meanwhile.


    The other participants were gradually opening their eyes.

 Chapter 77: Chapter 48: Wanting to Meet in Advance

    Isabel suddenly let out a sigh of relief and opened her eyes.


    She held her forehead and slowly came to from the soft feather hammock.


    "Awake?"


    With her back to her, Yanis was painting in Isabel''s bedroom and cheerfully said, "How was the ritual experience this time?"


    Isabel turned her head and saw a brilliant sunrise.


    Above the glitteringke, the newborn red sun seemed to set the entire expanse of water aze.


    Below were red and gold, above light blue and deep blue...


    This strange and beautiful scene reminded Isabel of ''Fox'' Mr. Aiwass''s eyes when resonating with the Path of Devotion.


    "Hmm, why aren''t you speaking?"


    When Isabel''s reply hadn''te for a while, Yanis turned curious, jokingly said, "You didn''t fail to advance, did you?"


    "...No, I seeded," Isabel said softly.


    "You actually seeded?" Yanis said in a tone of surprise.


    "Mrs. Yanis, why are you so surprised?"


    "Because I really did consider the possibility of you failing to advance."


    Yanis casually twirled the paintbrush in her hand, tilting her head, "So, you don''t me me for not telling you the various precautions in the ritual beforehand?"


    "...It''s okay. Failure is a kind of experience too," Isabel murmured.


    "Heh."


    The elf artistughed, walked over, and gently tapped Isabel, "You''re obviously cursing me in your heart. You silly little thing."


    Seeing this, Isabel didn''t pretend anymore.


    She approached with an aggrieved expression, "Teacher, I think you still need to teach me somemon sense things. Meaningless setbacks without any preparation... I''ve failed many times already."


    This was almost exactly what Sherlock had previously told her. Now she had directly borrowed his words.


    "Someone else taught you to say this, didn''t they?"


    But Yanis easily saw through the truth.


    "...Ah? How did you¡ª"


    "With your personality, when you say ''words of your own,'' they won''te out so smoothly, so precisely. You''ll hesitate about your own judgment. As you''ve just said¡ª you''ve failed too many times. So much so that your confidence has been undermined," Yanis said.


    Yanis sighed, leaned in closer, and caressed Isabel''s hair, "Then do you know why I didn''t hope for you to seed on your first attempt?"


    "...Why?"


    "Because failure in the advancement ritual was bound to happen sooner orter."


    Yanis patiently answered, "Whether it''s the New Moon Ritual or the Full Moon Ritual, its essence is topete with others. The only difference is whether it''s directpetition or indirectpetition. Since it''s apetition with others, where there are winners, there will surely be losers. Some may fail repeatedly, but no one can win forever.


    "Constant victory will only build up more and more pressure. For this reason, the first failure is actually a precious opportunity. It allows you to bnce your mentality and rx."


    "Why is failure considered an opportunity?"


    Isabel stubbornly asked, "I''d rather win."


    Yanis silently stroked her hair, then affectionately pinched her soft cheek.


    The elf spoke earnestly, "It''s simple, Little Isabel. Because failing the first time you advance doesn''t cause any harm to yourself. It only dys time¡ªhalf a month or a monthter, you can participate in another ritual. In other words, if you fail this time, you can still join another New Moon Ritual and experience realpetition. Then if you go back to a Full Moon Ritual, you''ll have experience.


    "You get deceived by others in the ritual, get defeated. Your real identity is tricked out of you, used like a tool by others¡ªyes, these indeed are ''failures.''


    "But at the same time, it''s just a dream. Even if they know your true identity, what can they do? You are the princess of Avalon; what more could they possibly do against you? That is your greatest reliance, Isabel. They can''t really do anything to you, your failure is just that¡ªa failure. It won''t cause any irrecoverable actual loss.


    "In a ce where no one recognizes you, people will not care about your identity or show you the slightest sentiment, only brutalpetition, survival, deception, betrayal... This will undoubtedly cause you to grow rapidly.


    "And all you need to pay is the ''price of time.'' Participating in more rituals will expose you, a well-protected and noble princess, to the unrestrained malice in people''s hearts while assuring your safety in advance. In my opinion, this is more valuable for your improvement than the advancement ritual itself," Yanis revealed the truth she hadn''t spoken before: "Competing fairly with others who are prepared when you have no awareness or understanding is indeed unfair. But reality is often like this... You will be ambushed by those who are prepared when you are least expecting and unprepared."


    "...So if that''s the case," Isabel said somewhat frantically, "does that mean that if I seed in advancing, I''ve done something wrong? In that case, I can''t afford to fail next time because failure woulde with a real cost..."


    Hearing this, Yanis blinked.


    She took a moment to process what had just been said and then couldn''t help butugh.


    "My little Isabel, why are you so adorable¡ª" Mrs. Yanis eximed with the intonation akin to cooing over a puppy, embracing the soft Isabel tightly in her arms.


    Her gaze was filled with tenderness and affirmation: "What are you talking about, my little sweetheart? If you managed to advance smoothly, that simply proves that you''re truly excellent.


    "You''ve already done very well. As for the ritual next time... you don''t have to worry about it.


    "No matter by what means you emerged victorious, it shows at the very least that you are not the worst. If you can win without knowing anything, then won''t you do even better after I''ve taught you seriously?"


    Mrs. Yanis spoke in a soothing voice: "Let''s not talk about that now, little Isabel. What did you choose as your Path trait?"


    She looked like she was only three or four years older than Isabel, like an elder sister, yet she spoke like an elder.


    "...Speaking of which."


    Isabel murmured in Mrs. Yanis'' embrace with a hint ofint: "You never told me what to choose. I hesitated for a long time and finally picked ''Agile Singing Voice''."


    "To increase the chanting difficulty of Enchanted Tunes, huh? That''s not bad either. Anyway, you''re a prodigy, anything you choose is fine. Following your heart is ''beauty'' itself."


    Mrs. Yanis raised her eyebrows: "I knew it, you sang in the dream, didn''t you? I thought you wouldn''t even find teammates."


    "It wasn''t that bad¡ª"


    Isabel insisted stubbornly: "I managed to find teammates right from the start!"


    "Alright, alright..."


    Mrs. Yanis smiled, cocking her head to size up Isabel: "How about I paint you a picture? Tomemorate your first ritual victory.


    "The way you look right now, your posture¡ªjust awakenziness, surprise, shyness, with a hint of confidence rising quietly like the dawn, and your cute timidity..."


    "...Mrs. Yanis!"


    Suddenly, Isabel interrupted Mrs. Yanis: "There''s another thing!"


    A hint of astonishment flickered in Mrs. Yanis'' eyes.


    She couldn''t resist smiling: "What is it, my little sweetheart?"


    Although she was delighted to see her student''s confidence... she had never thought that Isabel would progress to a level of courage where she would interrupt her after just one ritual.


    Her curiosity about what Isabel had experienced grew even stronger.


    But she respected Isabel. If Isabel didn''t bring it up herself, she wouldn''t ask¡ªbecause she knew that if she were to ask, her obedient student would surely tell.


    That wouldn''t be good. It would be like using her authority as a teacher to pry out secrets, destroying the natural rapport and the beauty of tacit understanding.


    "I remember, you mentioned before... that you wished to invite Mr. Aiwass to the Hall of Silver and Tin," Isabel said eagerly, in a low voice.


    "Can we invite him sooner? I want to see what he looks like now... and have a chat with him."


    She had just embraced the young Aiwass for a full four hours, and now she feltpletely unafraid of an encounter with the real Aiwass. If before she was "somewhat anticipatory," now she was "impatient."


    The fear and estrangement thate with meeting a stranger for the first time hadpletely dissipated in those four hours.


    With this in mind, she actually wanted to meet Aiwass as soon as possible. It was a fascinating feeling, like seeing a character from a storye to life.


    The strange position of knowing someone well when they don''t recognize you gave Isabel a rare sense of security, which is something she constantlycked in her day-to-day life.


    At that time, Isabel wanted to whisper secretly in her heart after meeting Mr. Aiwass:


    ¡ªSister once acted as your mother, and even sang you lubies!


    She could only say it in her heart because saying it out loud would seem impolite. But even just thinking it would surely make her chuckle inwardly.


    It would be so fun!


    Upon hearing this, Mrs. Yanis, intrigued, arched an eyebrow nomittally.

 Chapter 78 : 49 Edward Moriarty

    The mes in the firece crackled as they burned, and Sherlock, having simply draped a thick woolen coat over himself, slowly opened his eyes.


    His nearly amber brown pupils slowly focused, bing sharp gradually.


    With a deep and forceful inhtion, Sherlock creaked to a sit from his rocking chair with effort.


    He stood up and used the chemical equipment on the table to heat water with his somewhat trembling hands. He only heated it to about thirty or forty degrees, just enough to remove the chill of the early winter morning, before adding three generous spoonfuls of honey.


    After downing it in one gulp, he silently closed his eyes and stood upright in silence.


    He seemed to be savoring the taste of the honey water or quickly recovering his strength.


    It was a while before he opened his eyes again. Only then did Sherlock Hermes, who always appeared self-possessed, finally return in full.


    "Why did I rank third?"


    He muttered softly, "Besides the ''Bone Sculptor,'' who else could have scored higher than me? The Fox, or perhaps Coco?"


    After thinking it over for a while, he set the question aside in his heart.


    Immediately, he began to ponder another matter:


    "Whose pale and emaciated hand was that in the scene just now? And who was that fat man?


    "The phantom images shown at the settlement are definitely important scenes rted to the task, and they''re arranged in the order the events happened. The Fox''s decision tomit suicide determined our victory. That happened afterward...


    "Is the fat man the murderer, then? If so, whose was that white hand?"


    There were only two possibilities.


    It could either belong to the Bone Sculptor or to Coco. Both were possible... Neither of their faces had appeared in the image.


    But considering that the Fox had two images, which means his score could be higher than Sherlock''s, there wouldn''t be enough ranking space if Coco was also ounted for.


    Meaning, the person who most likely undertook the task of ''killing the murderer'' and scored the most points was probably the Bone Sculptor.


    ¡ªA dangerous person indeed.


    Being at Energy Level One and able to kill a Level Two Demon Schr... His other path must be of a high grade.


    "Lars Graham..."


    Sherlock murmured softly, pulling a file from a cab behind him.


    The lighting in his room was mediocre, the space cramped and not well ventted. The air was filled with a mix of chemical reagents and dust, while ritual materials, books, and various scrolls and files were scattered haphazardly on the shelves and tables.


    Though it looked chaotic, he actually knew exactly where different items were ced. At least he could always find what he wanted with ease.


    Holding the file, he walked to the window, squinting as he carefully read.


    "Born on February 29, 1824... 74 years old, huh."


    Irisflower People, born in Higwell Town. His father was a baker, his mother a tailor.


    "At 14, he began to learn sculpting under the tutge of Master Albert Adid. At 18, he set foot on the Path of Beauty. At 23, after the death of Master A.A., he was rmended for further study at Westide University. At 28, he was employed by the university as a tutor.


    "Held his first sculpture exhibition at 34, began to be called a master at 38, and at 46, he became the vice-dean of the Westide University Art Academy..."


    Sherlock murmured softly to himself, swiftly reviewing the information at hand.


    Then, his gaze settled on the middle part of the third page:


    "...In 1893, invited to Avalon to sculpt a holy image for Queen Sofia. This work waspleted in February 1896.


    "...In 1895, became a special art professor at the Royal College of Law Theological Seminary, teaching ''General Aesthetics.'' This position was resigned in June 1898."


    Five years ago, he had traveled from Iris Flower to Avalon to sculpt a holy image for the queen who sensed her impending death. That was hisst piece of work.


    Three years ago...before thepletion of the holy image, he started teaching aesthetics at the Theological Seminary. And he only taught for three years.


    Although the scene was fleeting,


    Sherlock saw it clearly¡ªthe ghostly figure of a white-d girl was wearing the Theological Seminary''s uniform.


    "...Interesting."


    Although the inspection of the missing person was still pending, it was bing nearly certain.


    This person was troublesome to deal with. As an international public figure, and a foreigner...convicting him would require conclusive evidence. And, likely, the only sentence would be deportation.


    But if it could be verified that he had taken the Dusk Path, perhaps matters would be much simpler.


    "Bone Sculptor is not to be touched for now, Fox..."


    Sherlock murmured to himself, "And who might you be?"


    The report for Her Majesty didn''t need to be written in a hurry.


    He wanted first to verify the information provided by the Fox, and then decide on the Fox''s stance based on the results.


    So Sherlock pondered for a moment and sat down at his desk to scribble on his map. He was calcting the location of the abandoned chemical factory in the Lohar District.


    Then, Sherlock suddenly picked up the phone on his desk and spun the heavy dial with one hand.


    The phone was answered almost immediately after ringing twice.


    "Good morning, Edward."


    Sherlock mped the receiver between his neck and shoulder, continuing to mark up the map while speaking rapidly, "My dear partner, I hope you''re awake by now¡ªnot woken up by me, but of your own ord. Yes, I need to see you¡ªyes, it''s troublesome. So I need your help, urgently. Pleasee see me right away. I''ll treat you to breakfast; you pick the ce.


    "¡ªYes, in the Lohar District. The ce called ''Sweater Brothers Association,'' do you remember it?"


    At this very moment.


    In the Red Queen District, at the Supervisory Court office.


    Chief Inspector Edward Moriarty answered the phone with his left hand d in white gloves.


    He had short, pure ck hairbed neatly backwards. His face was somewhat angr, with deep, ck eyes that were like chasms.


    Compared to his younger siblings, Edward''s appearance was much more ordinary. He had slightly high cheekbones and a square face, giving a sense of righteousness and solemnity.


    He leaned back in his own seat, wearing the inspector''s signature ck suit, which looked almost like mourning attire. His robust physique easily filled out the suit. The thick coat only reached his waist, while below he wore fitted ck trousers and ck leather shoes. A corner of a white handkerchief was ced in his breast pocket, his left hand wore a white glove, while his right hand was bare. His knuckles and bones were distinctly visible, conveying a sense of strength.


    Despite looking clearly displeased, Edward did not hang up the phone.


    After all, this was his best friend, his ssmate...his most reliable old partner.


    Chief Inspector Moriarty''s ungloved right hand slowly stroked the surface of the paper.


    A long list of names was on it¡ªthis meant "awaiting inspection."


    "Sweater Brothers Association..."


    Edward muttered softly, squinting his eyes in recollection, "I''ve heard the name, but it doesn''t ring a bell."


    His voice was deep and maic, conveying a sense of reliability and steadiness.


    "They must be a gang of Stranglers. They''re named that because, during their time of poverty, they were all dependent on the current leader''s mother''s charity, who provided each of them with a set of simrly patterned sweaters. Later, when they formed a gang, they used these sweaters as the organization''s name.


    "What, have they crossed you? Or are you thinking of buying them off to work for you?"


    "¡ªording to a reliable intelligence report, they may be connected to the masterminds behind the Pelican Bar. And I''ve got information regarding their gathering spot."


    Through the other end of the phone, Sherlock''s slightly distorted voice came through, "So, I''m inviting you to join me in the investigation. I do have some concerns¡ªif this intelligence is urate, it indeed involves potentially lethal risks to me."


    On hearing this, Edward''s brows furrowed slightly.


    In the depths of his ck pupils, a dazzling silvery-white brilliance gradually gathered and shone.


    "Really?"


    Edward said in a low voice, "You know who''s behind them."


    "Sixty percent sure. After all, I haven''t had the chance to verify it yet," Sherlock replied.


    "Your sixty percent is quite high, Hermes. I trust you."


    "Thene to my ce to meet up, Chief Inspector. Bring your sidearm and white gloves."


    "Alright, I''ll see you in a bit."


    Edward spoke concisely and hung up the phone.


    He clipped a handsome white short gun to his waist and added two Elven Style silver short swords.


    Afterward, Edward took out his white whistle ne from under his cor and blew it with force.


    The whistle made no sound, but after a while, the sound of a Gryphon pping its wings could be heard outside the window.


    He opened the window, let his ck Gryphon mount inside, and fed it some food.


    After eating, he prepared to ride the Gryphon to Sherlock''s home.


    At that moment, someone knocked on the door of his office.


    "¡ªLeave the report to Deputy Chief Asaad."


    Edward responded indifferently, "For procurement approval, go to Lady Red. I need to step out."


    "It''s me, Edward."


    The gentle voice of his foster father¡ªJames Moriarty¡ªcame from the doorway.


    Edward''s brow lifted slightly, his icy and stern countenance softened a tad.


    He immediately went over and opened the door.


    As he towered over his foster father, he leaned slightly and his tone became gentler, "Father, do you need something? You''re here early."


    "Are you heading out?"


    This politely-spoken elderly gentleman nced at the Gryphon eating inside the room, touched the brim of his hat, and made a light-hearted joke, "Coincidentally, I also have a sudden long trip to make."


    "A long trip? How far?"


    "Off to the Holy Nation. I was going to send Oswald in my ce, but after some thought, it''s better for me to handle something this important myself. I''ll be back in about two weeks; take good care of your brother and sister during this time."


    Old James spoke warmly, "Oh, and Aiwass is going back to school. Make sure you take care of that too."


    "No problem, Father."


    The silent and stern young man nodded slightly, "I will stay at home during this period and ensure Aiwass and Yulia''s safety."


    "Good, that''s settled then. ss Ind is about to be chaotic... And one more thing," old James added leisurely, "wrap up the matter with the Pelican Bar nicely, make sure all leads are cleaned up. Let''s put an end to it. If anyone else wishes to continue investigating, urge them to stay quiet."


    "...Yes."


    "Oh, and one more thing."


    Old James suddenly asked, "Did you find the letter I asked you to look for?"


    "Yes, indeed, I did not," Edward replied, "There were many things that should have been on the second body that were missing. ''Noble Red'' was gone as well."


    "It must have been taken away along with Aiwass," old James suggested gently, "After all, Veronica''s ''Noble Red'' is also in your brother''s possession. In that case, stop searching for the letter."


    "Father," Edward couldn''t help asking, "which minister is it that''smunicating with The Association? Can you tell me? I can''t protect Aiwass if I don''t know anything."


    "Shh..."


    Old James smiled, cing a finger on his lips.


    Edward immediately quieted down.


    And the old man said leisurely, "If Aiwass is endangered by his own justice and curiosity, then let him resolve it himself. Justst night, I sensed the presence of the Dream Realm. Aiwass has begun his first advancement ritual... The boy is finally starting to have some secrets of his own, which pleases me."


    He squinted through his somewhat cloudy grey eyes, speaking warmly, "As for espionage, I advise you''re better off not knowing. A secret is a form of power. But a secret in your hands is not yet a de; it will only shackle your thoughts."


    "Father..."


    "¡ªIt will be soon. Edward, it will be soon. Sooner orter, I will entrust all this to you... but not just yet."


    "...So what about now? What should I be doing now?"


    Edward was silent for a moment before adding, "Aside from the wrap-up work for the Pelican Bar..."


    "Now, you should do what you were intending to do before. Weren''t you about to head out?"


    The ever-calm old man squinted his eyes, patted the tall Edward on the shoulder, and said kindly, "But remember to eat something. Skipping breakfast is bad for the stomach."

 Chapter 79 : 50 Lily

    After Aiwass woke up, the first thing he did was to clean up his ritual site.


    The white crystal pendant that had been smoked was no longer pure. Aiwass ground it into powder and set it aside forter use.


    After harboring the essence of the Dreand, its spirit was so overly mixed that it lost the concept of "white crystal." In any alchemy or ritual that required a "white crystal," it would only lead to failure.


    But it wasn''tpletely useless. This thing was scientifically known as a "Lesser Dream Crystal" which, in alchemy and ritual studies, had a weak effect of blurring the lines between dreams and reality.


    If two opposite types of mana were infused into a portion of crystal dust, and it was mixed using the extracted fluid from an entire adult cuttlefish brain, then distilled into a bottle of white wine until only half was left, it would yield three doses of Lethe Water. Drinking one would make a person forget their deepest sorrows as if they were just a dream.


    ¡ª¡ªIn the game''s main quest, after Yulia''s death, "Aiwass" fell into profound grief; he obviously became depressed and haggard. At that time, under the guidance of Aiwass''s foster father, Professor James Moriarty, yers used the white crystal pendant that Aiwass gave to the yer character as a memento to make this magic potion for Aiwass to drink.


    After drinking the magic potion, Aiwass fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke, he was clearly much better.


    It was as if those events had not happened a few days before, but years earlier.


    It was also the first time in the game that James Moriarty took part in the main storyline.


    ...Now that Aiwass was preparing the magic potion himself, there was an odd feeling to it.


    But now, looking back, Aiwass felt... perhaps from that quest on it had been hinted that Old James possessed quite impressive alchemical knowledge. Because Lethe Water was not amon magic potion. At least from Aiwass''s recollection, it had never appeared again in subsequent main quests.


    It was only after cleaning up the remnants of the ritual from his bedroom that Aiwass left his room.


    He informed the housekeeper that his room could now be cleaned. Lady Rowena, the housekeeper, acknowledged and called for Aiwass''s personal maid.


    Generally, servants did not need to follow their masters around like a shadow; they usually worked at different times from their masters. Moriarty Manor, being in the White Queen District, couldn''t be toorge. But just the main building alone had more than twenty rooms... which necessitated constant cleaning by the servants.


    Usually external affairs were managed by Butler Oswald, while internal affairs were taken care of by Lady Rowena, the housekeeper. They were the easiest ones to find.


    The former was the Guardian of the Moriarty Family, while thetter was simply a human housekeeper for hire.


    In other Knight Families, there was no need for a specialmand from the master¡ª as soon as they left their ce, the housekeeper would immediately instruct someone to clean the area where the masters had been.


    But the Moriarty Manor was an exception.


    Among the four masters of the house, Aiwass rarely left home after middle school graduation. Yulia was not allowed to leave the house or approach open windows. Edward basically returned only one or two days a month... Only James would frequently leave and return home.


    Forget about arranging parties and outings; there wasn''t even much in the way of household trash. Aside from the usual cleaning routines, the servants spent most of their time chatting in ces where the masters couldn''t see them.


    And the servants all knew that the Moriarty Family was a Transcendent family and they were all studying mysticism. The various booksid out could contain knowledge dangerous enough to render an ordinary person foolish or dead with just a nce; and the various objects ced on the ground or on the tables might be part of a ritual or a barrier.


    So they wouldn''t clean the bedrooms until the housekeeper indicated it was "safe to clean." Even when they did clean, it was just about restoring the original ce of various items, trying not to touch these things as much as possible.


    "Good morning, Mr. Aiwass,"


    The maid with xen curly hair, who had originally been tending to the oil paintings nearby, came over and greeted softly.


    "Good morning, Lily."


    Aiwass also greeted his personal maid kindly: "I have good news for you¡­ you can go to school now."


    At these words, Lily''s eyes suddenly widened.


    "...I can go to school too?"


    She had been caring for Aiwass as his personal maid since he first came to the Moriarty Family.


    At that time, Aiwass was six years old, and Lily was only fourteen. They had already be very familiar with each other.


    Lily was usually responsible for cleaning Aiwass''s bedroom,undering and recing his personal clothing, and apanying him when he went out.


    Considering safety, decorum, and appearance issues, these personal male and female servants usually didn''te purely frommoner backgrounds but were children of rtives or illegitimate offspring from other families.


    For instance, Lily was a child of an old Knight and a courtesan.


    Her original surname was Drost, but she lost her surname upon bing a maid of the Moriarty Family.


    The Drost Family did not want a courtesan''s child to have the opportunity for inheritance rights and felt it would damage the Drost Family''s reputation if she went to school under their surname. At the same time, letting her fend for herself outside was also considered shameful.


    In the end, the old Knight entrusted Old James with the task of hiring Lily as a personal maid.


    ```


    This hiring of a maid could also be considered a form of foster care. Professor Moriarty was very kind to her¡ªeven though working as a maid prevented her from continuing school, a junior high level of education was enough for her to grasp basic knowledge. The family also provided her with various books so that she could self-study the subjects she was interested in during her spare time.


    "Of course, even though you''re just apanying me, you''ll have to sit in on the sses too,"


    Aiwass said with a gentle smile, patting the wheelchair beneath him, "I can''t possibly ask Mr. Oswald to go to school with me, can I? That would certainly make me theughingstock of my ssmates. I need someone to push my wheelchair."


    "Then... what about Mr. Wade? He can also protect you."


    Wade was the personal manservant''s name of Old James.


    Aiwass shook his head, "I''m not yet qualified."


    ording to Avalonian etiquette, only those of a sufficiently high social status were entitled to have personal manservants, just as only Knight Families could hire male servants. Merchants, upstarts, and senior civil servants who had not yet been knighted could only hire female servants. This was not only because many physical tasks required male servants, but also because personal manservants doubled as guards and bodyguards, responsible for protecting the estate''s security together with male butlers.


    The two personal manservants of the Moriarty Family belonged to Old James and his older brother, Edward. Edward had ced his personal manservant in another house he owned in the Red Queen District¡ªfor convenience ofmuting, he had bought an apartment near the Supervisory Court. The manservant only returned home with him when he visited.


    When he had visited Bishop Mathers, Butler Oswald had personally escorted him because Bishop Mathers held a high enough status.


    But Butler Oswald couldn''t possibly take care of him every day.


    Until Aiwass gained a third-level Shadow Affinity, could fully control the Shadow Demon, or managed to umte 50 points of Dark Attribute Mana to create a nk Card to seal the Shadow Demon away, he clearly couldn''t do without a wheelchair.


    At his own home, it was fine. Or it wouldn''t matter in ces where there were no people.


    But even if the Shadow Demon remained quiet and didn''t make trouble, as long as Aiwass stood on top of his own shadow, he conceptually "linked" with his Shadow Demon. Then his shadow would visibly boil¡ªbing dense and solid-like, writhing, and emitting smoke.


    That was clearly asking for trouble. And moving his wheelchair by himself, although not impossible, would be too exhausting.


    "...Can I really do it?"


    Lily was a bit nervous, her hand clutching the hem of her dress, "My father... that man said he didn''t want me to attend school. And... even if I push your wheelchair, won''t your ssmates talk behind your back?"


    She obviously wanted to go, but feared she might cause trouble. Rather than persuading Aiwass, it was more like she was convincing herself of why she couldn''t go.


    "Why would they? They would be envious if anything," Aiwassughed, "After all, I have such a beautiful girl apanying me to sses."


    Of course, the real reason was... he knew that Lily wanted to go to school very much, she was filled with a thirst for knowledge.


    Though theoretically he was not qualified to have a male servant yet, his situation was special. The school should be able to make a special approval.


    But Wade was not interested in this; it was better to give the opportunity to Lily. After all, she had been looking after him since he was small, almost like an older sister...


    In the original timeline, Lily would die in a minor side mission in three to four months. Her death was insignificant and trivial.


    It would be better for her toe to school with him.


    These characters who did not appear in the "script" also held a kind of "unknown" potential in a way.


    "...You tter me too much."


    Lily blushed at his words.


    Despite some girlish confidence in her own looks, she knew Aiwass was joking andforting her.


    The stern-faced housekeeper couldn''t help but smile as well.


    She obviously had a good impression of this polite and somewhat introverted young maid, gently patting Lily''s shoulder and reminding her, "Don''t forget to thank Mr. Aiwass."


    "Thank you, thank you..."


    Only then did Lily react, bowing deeply in gratitude.


    She could hardly control her tears, her vision blurring.


    Because she realized that Aiwass wasn''t just making an offhand suggestion or joking¡ªhe was serious.


    This filled her heart with joy.


    Even her somewhat blurred vision of the world seemed to burst into bright light at dawn.


    ```

 Chapter 80: Chapter 51: Ring of Ouroboros

    In a sense, the "Royal Law University" was the reason why Aiwass had to keep Avalon safe for at least two years.


    It was a major experience ground where the Aiwass in the game had grown into a reliable ally in just half a year.


    Even Hayna, a vige girl who had never been exposed to Transcendence before and only started from scratch in the second semester of her freshman year... while she maintained first ce in her cultural courses and studied a heap of various misceneous knowledge, she had grown to levels 25 to 26 before her senior year.


    Even though the leveling up was quite fast early on, this was still a pretty impressive figure.


    He was not a transmigrant who obtainednguage proficiency upon crossing over; instead, these were the past life memories recalled by Aiwass¡ªat least, he crossed over when Aiwass was a child, or even just after he was born. If Aiwass didn''t know something, neither did he.


    The various settings and storylines Aiwass knew were also fragmented. He did not be arrogant orcent because of his foresight. What he was familiar with were things a regr yer frequently came in contact with¡ªsuch as Path attributes, profession skills, gamey techniques, and dungeon processes.


    Moreover, Aiwass deeply understood one truth: Incorrect information is worse than no information at all.


    Therefore, he needed the systematic knowledge of this world. For example,mon knowledge known to ordinary people about the Nine Pir Gods, the church¡ªgeographical knowledge of different areas and modern history.


    And most crucially,nguage¡ªespecially writtennguage, which is the most important skill in this world.


    Hayna had to learn three foreignnguages during college: Irisian Language, Star Antimony Language, and Elvish Language. As a Priest, Aiwass had to be even more proficient in Elvish Language... because most high-level Path of Devotion books are written in Elvish Language.


    There''s no so-called "Common Human Language" in this world. Not only do humannguages differ, but there are alsonguages of other races¡ªElvish Language, Dwarven Language, Centaur Language... even Dragon Language.


    And in this world, the most primary and stable way to improve Transcendent abilities is through learning.


    But if you don''t have a good enough tutor to feed you information directly, then you have to read books yourself.


    For instance, the Alchemy Cipher was written in Star Antimony Language.


    The mystical books of different nations and the Codex Books tranted into the localnguages are all in different scripts. Practitioners on the Path of Wisdom are essentially tool people in every country, and their main iees from decoding original works iprehensible to others into Codex Books and selling them on the ck market. This also means that there are many localnguage Codex Books circting in the ck market of each country.


    Influenced by Yulia, Aiwass could understand Star Antimony Language. Yulia isn''t a Transcendent yet, but her Adaptation is from the Path of Bnce¡ªshe has a great talent for Alchemy, just as Aiwass has a talent for Ritual Studies.


    He also understood Chinese, which is almost impossible to learn in Avalon... even ssical Chinese, but he could read and understand it normally. This was one of Aiwass''s advantages.


    Aiwass also knew a little Elvish Language. But his understanding of Irisian Language was only minimal, and he knew nothing of Dwarven Language. He still had to learn some Ancient Parthia Language to be able to understand those skill books rted to Curse abilities that originated from the Parthian Ancient Country.


    Otherwise, as a Demon Schr, not knowing curses feels like something is missing.


    Beyond linguistics, as the highest-level Transcendent academy in Avalon, the Royal Law University housed an extensive collection of books. While many were inessible to students, by establishing good rtionships with the professors, he could also get some ess to their private collections.


    Through study, Aiwass could quickly raise his Path level.


    Although defeating and killing Transcendents of a higher level could also yield experience, that method was too inefficient and dangerous. Moreover, the mystical skills gained in such a way only had a level butcked true knowledge.


    Yes, knowledge.


    At the Theological Seminary of the Royal Law University, there were three elective courses that were extremely important to Aiwass.


    "Curses and Diseases," "Demons'' Weaknesses and Countermeasures," "Ordinary Ritual Studies."


    Even though the core mystical knowledge of Transcendence Paths was carefully excluded in the course content, even the surface knowledge was meaningful.


    And when writing academic papers, he could also borrow high-quality books.


    Decoding that knowledge and thereby understanding it inversely could increase Aiwass''s mystical skills of the Path of Transcendence. This was much more efficient than buying various dubious Demonology books.


    ¡ªPerhaps in Avalon, the Demonology and Ritual Studies books avable for purchase were always a mixture of truth and fiction, but the knowledge tobat demons and perform rituals was definitely genuine.


    The reason Aiwass was so eager to improve himself was not entirely to thwart the schemes of the Star Antimony Kingdom, nor was it entirely the influence of the Path of Transcendence.


    Because he didn''t have much time left to develop.


    The real crisis that would destroy everything was not the Star Antimony Kingdom but the Celestial Marshals. The current crisis was merely a prelude.


    The first Celestial Marshal to descend was the Fallen Celestial Marshal, who came down from the Star Antimony Kingdom in version 3.0.


    The name "Fallen Celestial Marshal" was not only because It was associated with the concepts of sin and degradation... but also because, in an era when Celestial Marshals could not descend to the human world, It was the first "Celestial Marshal to fall to the human world."


    Before the descent of the Celestial Marshals, the world was mainly about mortals waging war against one another.


    The specific time of arrival for version 3.0 was a year and a halfter, in June.


    The Rose Cross Society sessfully restored the ancient ritual "Ring of Ouroboros."


    This ritual required the sacrifice of a Transcendent who had reached the limit of their Path¡ªa max-level Transcendent, using their body as an offering to beckon a Celestial Marshal. By granting the Celestial Marshal a material body and mortal desires, it allowed a Celestial Marshal from the Dream Realm to truly descend.


    To descend in the flesh, rather than just being projected into the Material Realm as a Celestial Marshal.


    But that method, instead of "calling down," was more about "dragging down" the Celestial Marshal.


    "Celestial Marshal" is a being even more advanced than an "Angel Envoy" and is a type of Phantom Demon. Celestial Marshals do not directly serve the Nine Pir Gods, but rather as candidates for the Pir Gods of various Paths.


    When forced to descend through the "Ring of Ouroboros" ritual, they be subject to thews of the Material Realm due to their fleshy bodies, their levels dropping to the maximum that the Path of the Material Realm allows to reach... hence there is a possibility of defeat.


    The purpose of calling down a Celestial Marshal is that these Celestial Marshals guard the key nodes of the Paths, diverting away a portion of the Path''s power.


    ¡ª¡ªThat is, the "level cap".


    Mortals are always greedy. They yearn for powers that elevate them above others, powers that can change the world.


    And once Transcendents set foot on this path, they cannot bear the stagnation of their advancement.


    Although Phantom Demons do not die, once a Fallen Celestial Marshal is defeated and resurrected, they lose their celestial status and be pure Phantom Demons. The powers of the Path they once held are released, allowing Transcendents of that Path to ascend to higher positions, thus unlocking more advanced "career" possibilities.


    The person who defeats a Celestial Marshal can obtain the most celestial essence. They can then gain more power in the Ring of Ouroboros ritual.


    But the Rose Cross Society still underestimated the power of the Fallen Celestial Marshal¡ªeven if its energy level was bnced to the Material Realm''s limit, the luxurious assembly of four level-fifty "Demon Incarnations" still failed to defeat the Fallen Celestial Marshal and were instead ughtered by it.


    The Fallen Celestial Marshal, once descended upon the world, merges its personality with the spiritual foundation of the sacrifice and dominates it, with the former providing the basis.


    Before the Demon Schrs understood the taboo of "Heaven''s Cmity," they could only advance to Demon Incarnations at the fourth energy level.


    Stay connected via m-v l|e''-NovelBin


    As demons, their characters are filled with uncontroble violence and cruelty, even to themselves.


    Everyone knows that the Path of Transcendence would never have volunteers willingly be sacrifices for experiments¡ªthis sacrifice was a colleague betrayed in their internal power struggles.


    The sacrifice merged with the Fallen Celestial Marshal not only annihted the entire Rose Cross Society but also ughtered the entire Star Antimony royal family. With sheer brute force, he usurped the throne, freely indulging in a massacre within the kingdom of Star Antimony. Influenced by the hatred of the Fallen Celestial Marshal, unable to end the ritual and return to the Dream Realm, he instigated a war of utter destruction without reason.


    ¡ª¡ªA war that targeted the entire world.


    It wasn''t until the Fallen Celestial Marshal was subdued by a squad led by "yers" that the level cap of the Path of Transcendence was first opened.


    And with that, Pandora''s box was also simultaneously opened. From that moment on, the world inevitably fell into chaos.


    This marked the end of the 3.0 main storyline.


    But Aiwass did not forget...that this world had no "yers."


    If he did nothing, the Fallen Celestial Marshal would directly tten the world. This meant that he must advance to be a Great Sin Schr and reach the maximum level of fifty before Transcendence''s fifth advancement ritual could bepleted.


    If he did not reach the sixth energy level, even with the advanced understanding of the Great Sin Schr, a heroic career, he would still be unable to defeat the Fallen Celestial Marshal.


    This meant he only had one and a half to two years.


    If things were like the original story, where Avalon fell and he wandered between countries¡ªwhen the Fallen Celestial Marshal descended, he would still be a level-thirty rookie Demon Schr.


    By then, who could Aiwass depend on?


    Keep in mind that Aiwass was already over level twenty when he fled Avalon with the yers half a yearter. But at the time he was rescued by the yers, he was only level three.


    From the time Aiwass attended school with the yers until the incident in Avalon urred, there were only eight months in total!


    He managed two advancements in eight months...and in the following ten months, he only raised five levels, barelypleting one advancement. This is the difference when resources are abundant.


    ...But there is one problem.


    That is, inside the school, there is his foster father, Professor Moriarty.


    And he''s the teacher for higher mathematics...a required course.


    This made Aiwass feel somewhat awkward.


    Although he was aware that Professor Moriarty would be a world-ss BOSS in the future, the feelings umted over so many years of upbringing were genuine. Even if his past-life memories were awakened, he could not ignore the impact of this life''s memories.


    But it was only half a dayter that Aiwass received an uplifting piece of news from Oswald, who had just returned home after lunch:


    "Father went to the Holy Nation?"


    Although it only dyed the inevitable for a bit and didn''t solve the problem...it was always better to take a breather and not immediately face this troublesome issue.


    At least Aiwass could catch his breath.


    "Yes," the old butler answered, "it might be a long time before he returns. Starting from tonight, young master Edward will being back to stay. If you need anything, you can ask him.


    "Additionally, the Hall of Silver and Tin has extended an invitation for you to be a guest tonight at a private banquet. I advise against refusing. Due to certain reasons, this banquet is not suitable for me to apany you. Do you have any preferred guest to bring along?"


    The royal family is looking for me?


    Aiwass was startled for a moment.


    His initial thought was that the princess wouldn''t have blown his cover so soon, right?


    But he quickly realized¡ªit must be about that newspaper article he had been involved with. So, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Then...can my brother go?"


    "I''m afraid Edward is too busy,"


    Oswald replied, "He has gone out with Mr. Sherlock and might not be back in time before the dinner. But if he does return, I will request him toe for you. The nights are not very safetely."


    Aiwass said offhandedly, "Then let''s go with Lily. Going to the Hall of Silver and Tin as a guest, there''s no need to worry about safety anyway."

 Chapter 81: Chapter 52 Soul-Searching Spell

    ss Ind, Lohar District.


    Sherlock scrutinized his surroundings carefully, following a path from his memory to find the stinking ditch and the mountain of trash.


    Perhaps due to the intensified wastewater discharge from the factory,pared with the abandoned chemical factory in his dreams, the domestic rubbish here had piled up even more, and the water had be even fouler. It nearly sealed off the road, emitting an unpleasant stench of decay. As Sherlock leaned in to examine the garbage, disturbed cockroaches began to crawl out from beneath the mountain of waste.


    Edward, who walked behind him, stood tall with tightly furrowed brows.


    He stared deeply at the mountain of trash, with an expression of disgust clearly not wanting to move closer.


    "...How did you discover this ce, Hermes?"


    Edward asked, standing still.


    "First-hand information from an advancement ritual, my partner,"


    Sherlock replied, without any concealment to his close friend: "Pass this ce, climb over that small hill, and you''ll see an abandoned chemical factory. The Sweater Brothers Association''s hidden base is there."


    "Then you step aside first."


    Edward said.


    Sherlock obediently stepped back, watching his friend, who gave off a deep, dark impression, draw one of the Elf Short Swords from his waist, pointing it forward.


    White glowing runes lit up at his right wrist, quickly crawling towards the fingertips, ascending up the ridge of the short sword.


    "¡ª¡ªThew grants me the necessary right of passage."


    With thatmand, a pure white radiance surged, and a storm roared.


    An irresistible invisible force, along with the light, extended from the tip of the sword, pushing the entire mountain of trash to each side.


    In the center, it left a spacious path wide enough for ten people to walk abreast, with a mist-like glowingyer covering the ground.


    Under the illumination of that glowing path, three faint green and one ck light lit up within the surrounding trash mounds.


    "It seems your information is correct, Hermes."


    Edward sheathed his short sword, saying calmly: "There are traps buried in this trash heap. Three of them are of the Path of Adaptation, one of the Path of Love. But their energy levels are not very high."


    "Yes, I suspected as much."


    Sherlock was not surprised, simply continuing forward while noting: "I had noticed earlier that theyout of this pile of trash was unnatural. It neither looked like it was discarded by people nor like it was blown by the wind. There is no trash where there ought to be, and a conspicuously clear path with the least trash had been deliberately left open. The truly safe path is probably not that path, but to go directly over the top of the trash heap."


    "They''re likely not lethally dangerous traps."


    Edward analyzed, following behind Sherlock: "If there were bloodstains or corpses in the pile, it would give away their location more easily."


    "It seems the Sweater Brothers really are here," Sherlock pondered with a slight frown, "but this surprises me. I previously thought they might be Demon Schrs."


    "Why would you think that?" Edward asked in return.


    "Because someone told me that the Sweater Brothers have connections with the people behind the scenes at the Pelican Bar."


    Sherlock reasoned: "The people behind the Pelican Bar should be the Noble Red Society. You know, they are a bunch of Demon Schrs involved in murder, sacrifice, robbery, and theft. But after all, they have an inheritance¡ªI mean, the one from Star Antimony.


    "If they are assisting the Sweater Brothers, then the traps at the entrance seem rather simple."


    Hearing Sherlock''s words, Edward fell silent for a moment.


    Of course, he knew there was no connection. Because they simply weren''t qualified enough.


    The Sweater Brothers Association was just a band of petty thieves. Though they mixed with Transcendents and might be somewhat troublesome for ordinary people... the "Noble Red" Society probably wouldn''t give them a second nce.


    However, it was fine if Sherlock thought that way.


    On the contrary, it was better that way, Edward thought to himself.


    He knew hiszy and defiant old friend possessed considerable adaptability on the Path of Wisdom and was extremely sensitive to the truth. He hade along because he was afraid that Sherlock might really find something on his own. Discover exclusive tales on m,v l''e-NovelBin


    Although his father hadn''t made it explicit, Edward had roughly guessed the conspiracy behind the Pelican Bar.


    Those people came from the Noble Red Society.


    On the surface, it was an organization of Demon Schrs mostlyprised of Avalonians, with a few instructors from Star Antimony mixed in.


    But Edward knew more.


    They weren''t just an illegal Transcendent organization; they were a faction funded by the Alktos Kingdom, intent on overthrowing the rule of the Avalonian Knights.


    The reason was simple. Their leader was a Giant.


    Their Giant bloodline harked back to 400 years ago, to the Giant Dynasty from the Alktos Kingdom, which had been overthrown by the founding Monarch of Avalon, Lancelot I, with the support of the Elves.


    At that time, in this narrow ind country, the strong and brave Giant King ruled and sheltered the diminutive humans. They were so powerful that they could maintain peace and independence under the influence of the empire.


    Even though there is no evidence proving that the leader has royal blood of Alktos, there is no doubt he is one of the extremely rare Giants on the continent today. In "Alktos", Giants were basically nobility¡ªso even if he wasn''t royalty, he was at least a noble from the former dynasty.


    Among the other high ranks of the Noble Red Society, there were many Half-blood Giants. Though not as tall and sturdy as their leader, they were superior to ordinary humans. The "Noble Red" implied in the Society''s name refers to their noble lineage.

 Chapter 82: Chapter 52 Soul-Searching Spell_2

    Today''s Avalon has no nobility, but is ruled by knights. Although the royal family can bestow armor on knights, they essentially have little actual power. They can only indirectly influence the Round Table Hall by cultivating new knights loyal to the royal family... However, whenpared to the merchants, the substantial influence of the royal family over the new ss of knights is much inferior. A new generation of knight families who possess only restrained power, without a foundation or money, are easily influenced by their sponsors.


    Professor Moriarty, Edward''s foster father, is in the business of doing just that.


    Among the old knight families, some are flourishing while others are in decline. Thetter includes those who are willing to ept patronage and those who are not.


    Some pride themselves on their nobility, fundamentally different from the new knights ofmon blood; others are tired of the endless squabbles at the Round Table Hall and the invisible hands that manipte from beyond its confines; and some are greedy enough to want to take control and directly seize the merchants'' wealth.


    Even though these people have different stances, they share amon demand.


    ¡ªThat is to restore the rule of the nobility.


    Therefore, in addition to the Star Antimony people, there are also some ministers in the ss Ind who are secretly supporting the Noble Red Society.


    Edward has no affection for Avalon. He doesn''t care about Avalon or Alktoth.


    He was once a wandering orphan on the streets, whoter became a "Moriarty". Afterward, he graduated with distinction and joined the Supervisory Court directly, responsible for monitoring suspected knights, examining officials suspected of corruption, and screening spies from other countries.


    In the process, he saw too much ugliness that was utterly different from what he had imagined in his youth. Thew did not uphold justice and morality but the Authority of the Round Table Hall¡ªnot even the Authority of the Hall of Silver and Tin.


    Compared with the knights, repaying Moriarty''s foster care was evidently more important.


    Edward had previously asked his foster father on which side they should stand.


    But Old James''s answer was, "You stand by my side, Edward."


    Now, Edward was d that the Sweater Brothers Association and the person behind the Pelican Bar had no connection. Otherwise, he didn''t know how to stop Sherlock''s persistent investigation.


    His old friend was too smart, too sensitive.


    Any hesitation or avoidance of the truth on his part would likely be noticed by him.


    Edward had very few friends¡ªextremely few.


    He did not wish to one day lose another important friend.


    ¡ªFortunately, this was a misguided direction of investigation.


    "Although I don''t know who provided this... but I thank you. You keep investigating in this direction, Sherlock,"


    Edward thought to himself.


    Giving the bored detective something to do would prevent him from having nothing better to do and turning back to investigate the Pelican Bar."


    As he thought of this, he suddenly felt a stirring in his heart.


    He still had another case at hand¡ªconsidering the safety of themon people and his own family, this matter needed to be dealt with promptly. After all, they did not stand with the Noble Red Society, but were maintaining a Bnce.


    Thus, Edward said, "Perhaps it''s not entirely unrted."


    "I''ve just remembered something else. Currently, the Supervisory Court is investigating a case codenamed ''Redstone''.


    "There''s a batch of powerful, small-sized portable alchemical bombs that have been smuggled from the Pelican Bar to Avalon. The Supervisory Court suspects the buyer might be someone high within the kingdom. But even if they are portable, they can''t be stored at home. One reason is it''s unsafe, and the other is they''re easy to detect.


    "If they haven''t had the chance to be moved yet, they should be in the Lohar District now. You mentioned the Sweater Brothers Association''s base is an abandoned chemical factory, so it''s reasonable to store them there... "


    Edward stopped there, suddenly sensing something.


    He heard someone''s heartbeat.


    Sherlock, a second behind, also seemed to notice something and immediately looked up.


    A blue-white brilliance flowed in his pupils, and Sherlock issued a decree without hesitation: "[Still]!"


    A brilliant radiance like that of a newborn star burst forth from his side, spreading out in all directions.


    In the corner behind him, an assassin squatting there was suddenly jolted out of invisibility, his entire being covered by a white light, as if turned to stone.


    After half a second, he broke free from the binding.


    Realizing the binding force was not strong, the assassin''s eyes turned vicious. The dagger in his hand flicked into a correct grip.


    He crouched slightly, his body once again merging into the shadows. He wanted to rush forward and assassinate Sherlock first, then escape quickly.


    However, a sudden tremble surged in the assassin''s heart, an intense sense of crisis overwhelmed him¡ª


    "¡ª[Arrest]."


    Edward issued themand with impassive authority.


    Two pure white triangles materialized out of thin air around the assassin''s wrists as he attempted to stealthily move again, and then a powerful maic force pulled his hands together, shackling them. The assassin, who had been dashing forward, was thrown off bnce by the force, stumbling and nearly falling. The poison-coated dagger, now useless due to the tightened restraints on his wrists, ttered to the ground.


    Then, the ovepping triangles forming a hexagram zipped upwards, keeping level with the ground... suspending the assassin in mid-air.


    Lucky hit.


    Thinking this, Edward allowed a rare smile to cross his lips.


    He slowly approached the young assassin, who was now restrained and showing a look of terror on his face.


    "Looks like the fish has been hooked, Hermes."


    Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin


    Edward said leisurely, "I am going to proceed... Remember to plug your ears."


    "No need. I''m hardly some pure young maiden. Besides, these members of the Strangler Party are bound for Execution Square sooner orter," said Sherlock, arms crossed andposed, "I instructed you to bring a handkerchief, which means I had already envisioned this scene. After all, I shouldn''t be taking action... but you are from the Supervisory Court, and you have the right to carry out summary executions."


    "I''m actually more curious. Your subordinates¡ªI recall there is a girl who quite admires you, right? Has she ever seen you search through a criminal''s memory?"


    "What do you think the work of the Supervisory Court involves, Hermes? What we do is much dirtier than this," Edward scoffed.


    "I guess I was really lucky not to have joined the Supervisory Court with you back in the day," Sherlock remarkedzily, "After all, I thought as the head of the Supervisory Court you wouldn''t need to go out on assignments."


    "I also worked my way up from the front lines, Mr. Hermes. And I am not some great leader. I can''t say more, still within the confidentiality period¡ªthree more years and I can tell you what my first mission was," Edward replied.


    As he spoke, he slowly pulled out his white handkerchief from the pocket over his heart and began to close in slowly.


    His towering figure cast a shadow and his slow yet resolute movements were terrifying in the extreme.


    "No, don''t... I will tell you, I will say everything... Spare my life..."


    The young voice of the Strangler Party member, one who had followed the Path of Adaptation, sounded unexpectedly.


    "I cannot spare you, thief. Your death is inevitable," Edward said icily, "How many people have you killed? Five? Six?"


    "You think nobody would notice you, you think you''ve cleverly buried the evidence..."


    He methodically unfolded the handkerchief soaked in a soporific magic potion and pressed it fiercely over the struggling assassin''s face.


    Muffled grunts of struggle could be heard from beneath the handkerchief.


    The next moment, Edward''s eyes filled with a dazzling white light. Five runic symbols extended from his fingers clenched on the assassin''s cheek, rapidly tracing over the man''s greasy, ck curly hair, causing it to shine.


    "¡ªThew grants me the necessary power to search," Edward announced solemnly.


    Along with the muffled screams from beneath the handkerchief, grayish-white smoke seeped from the assassin''s facial orifices, slowly inhaled by Edward.


    Finally, he released his grip and lifted the [Decree: Arrest].


    The assassin''s body fell lifelessly to the ground. Blood slowly oozed from the handkerchief stuck to his face. The white runic symbols on his throat, behind his ears, and on top of his head where the handkerchief didn''t cover gradually faded.


    Edward did not bother to retrieve his white handkerchief.


    After all, his Soul-Searching Spell could only be used once a day, and a face covered with a handkerchief also signified that the person had been "searched".


    "We''ve hit the right ce, Hermes¡ªat least in part. The Sweater Brothers Association is indeed connected to the Noble Red Society, you''re right.


    "¡ªOne batch of Alchemical Bombs is stored right now in this abandoned chemical factory."

 Chapter 83: Chapter 53 Aiwass: I like it very much

    Avalon itself was an ind nation, and the Hall of Silver and Tin in the capital ss Ind was even built on an ind within an ind.


    At the front end of Avalon Bridge leading to the Hall of Silver and Tin, an elderly Elf stood straight as an arrow, his skin like tree bark and his oil-green pupils wild as a wolf''s, casting a figure in the winter night like a lone tree.


    "I''ll leave you here."


    The old butler instructed the maid Lily, "Take good care of Mr. Aiwass."


    "Yes, Mr. Oswald."


    Lily responded respectfully.


    Under the old butler''s watchful eye, she pushed Mr. Aiwass''s wheelchair onto the bridge.


    The sun set early in the early winter. The deep blue night sky hadn''t yet turned pitch ck, and the sapphire-likeke shimmered with exceptional beauty under the streetlights on both sides of the bridge.


    The tall White Griffons, like stone lions, would silently settle on the stone tforms on both sides of the streetlights as night fell.


    As Mr. Aiwass passed by, from time to time a White Griffon would open its eyes to gaze at him. Their pupils shone like jewels in red or blue, crystal clear and reflecting the colors of the lights.


    Their pure white feathers reflected the orange-yellow glow of the streetlights, radiating a sacred brilliance. Explore more stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin


    "How beautiful..."


    The xen-haired young girl was also here for the first time.


    Immersed in this beautiful sight, she couldn''t help but exim, "It reminds me of your eyes."


    "...What did you say?"


    Suddenly flirted with, Mr. Aiwass was a bit slow to react, "The Griffons?"


    But Lily wasn''t shy about it and simply stated as a matter of fact, "I was talking about the color of theke, Mr. Aiwass. It resembles the color of your eyes."


    "I see."


    Upon hearing this, Mr. Aiwass turned his gaze away from the Griffons and looked toward theke illuminated under the night lights, "I hadn''t really noticed... Now that you mention it, it does look somewhat simr."


    Hearing this, the Griffons on both sides of the bridge let out a series of low, good-natured chuckles.


    Realizing that these White Griffons could actually understand human speech, Lily was taken aback.


    Her cheeks flushed red, and she dared not speak anymore, merely lowering her head to push the wheelchair.


    Since this meeting wasn''t an official one and didn''t require a visit to Her Majesty the Queen, it was not necessary for the Royal Steward to be present. Guided by a male servant, Lily led Mr. Aiwass to the annex.


    The Hall of Silver and Tin was always brightly lit. Even the annex where the royal heirs lived was no exception.


    Even though there were only a few heirs left and not even one-tenth of the annex''s rooms were filled, all rooms had to have their lights on. This was so that residents of the Red-White Queen District could see at any time, to reassure them¡ªthat the Queen was always with them.


    By the time Mr. Aiwass arrived, avish dinner was already prepared.


    All the dishes wereid out on the table, rather than being served slowly as at home.


    Mr. Aiwass immediately spotted dishes he didn''t recognize: roasted freshwater fish, fried cod strips, breadcrumb-coated fried frog legs, carrot stewedmb, lemon oysters, and a few crisp roasted pigeons.


    There was also a seafood soup with ms, razor ms, and prawns, along with vani and pineapplebo ice cream. Almost all the dishes were to Mr. Aiwass''s liking. At a nce, the table was almost entirely meat and seafood, the only greenery being a peculiar spinach cake.


    ...Does the little princess not like vegetables?


    A doubt arose in Mr. Aiwass''s mind.


    But soon, his question was answered:


    "This is what I found out, Mr. Aiwass, that you like to eat."


    Princess Isabel, sitting at the table, looked toward Mr. Aiwass. Her eyes, as beautiful as top-grade emeralds, reflected the silverware''s glow, radiating colors of joy and anticipation, "Do you like it?"


    She wore a Vanhua crown on her head, a string of pearl ne around her pure white neck, with a small rose carved from citrine. Her pure white off-shoulder dress was adorned with natural emerald green leaves. Her hands were folded gracefully on herp, presenting a gentle and generous smile.


    She was so beautiful that her light golden hair, naturally cascading to her waist, seemed to sparkle under the light, just like the Hall of Silver and Tin shining in the midday sun.


    So much so that Lily couldn''t help but hold her breath, astounded by such pure rity and beauty.


    Perhaps due to her one-fourth Elf mixed heritage, Princess Isabel seemed younger than her actual age¡ªalthough she was neen, she looked even younger than Mr. Aiwass.


    She seemed to be only a little older than Miss Julia, Lily thought to herself.


    Princess Isabel''s waist was extremely slender, but her chest curvature was not very pronounced... it seemed even smaller than that of fifteen-year-old Miss Yulia.


    Perhaps this was the only w in her beauty. Or, it could be said that it was precisely because it blurred the meaning of sex and temptation that this beauty appeared so pure.


    Even Aiwass held his breath for a moment.


    This was also his first encounter with Princess Isabel. Although he had long known of her beauty and had seen her model in the game, perhaps due to the influence and enhancement of the Path of Beauty... the real her was far more "beautiful" than that.


    "...I am very fond of it."


    Sitting quietly in his wheelchair, which made him appear refined and gentle, Aiwass sincerely answered, "I am extremely grateful for your amodation and care, Your Highness.


    "I was so overwhelmed by your beauty that I failed to respond immediately to your question. If I have been impolite, please be forgiving."


    "Then please eat, Mr. Aiwass."


    Princess Isabel simply smiled and urged him on.


    She was just a little surprised to find that when she looked at Aiwass, she didn''t feel the timidness and nervousness that came with meeting a stranger... as if she already knew him.


    ¡ªSo hugging the young Aiwass really worked!


    Immediately, her thoughts turned to the fact that Aiwass had lost his parents at such a young age.


    ording to Mr. Sherlock''s deductions, Aiwass''s biological parents must have lured the Hook Demon away, thereby saving Aiwass''s life. The tragical hue of this story saddened her.


    Although it might not be rted to her, or maybe she was too engrossed in the role¡ªIsabel seemed to radiate a maternal glow: "Let''s talk while we eat, Mr. Aiwass. You must be hungry after your journey..."


    Suddenly, she heard a soft cough near her ear.


    Only then did she suddenly remember that she seemed to have forgotten something!


    ¡ªIt was what her teacher had reminded her beforehand!


    Thus, Isabel coughed and forcefully changed the subject, hurriedly adding: "Besides, my teacher, Yanis, would also like to participate in this dinner¡ªif you don''t mind."


    ...Such an abrupt transition.


    She was reminded, wasn''t she?


    "¡ªOf course."


    Aiwass obediently picked up his knife and fork, replying with a smile, "I have long admired Master Yanis."


    "Oh?"


    A voice with mature charm gently asked, "Have you seen my works as well?"


    The elf, who looked not quite thirty, possessed both the mature allure of ady and the innocent charm of a girl, appeared unperceived at the tableside. She took a seat closer to Aiwass than the princess, eyeing the tinum-blonde youth with interest.


    Yanis was tall and slender, with creamy curls, and bangs that swept across one eye. Her eyes were the same emerald green as Princess Isabel''s, and she was only a finger''s height shorter than Aiwass¡ªjust by looking at her height and her elegantly straight back, one could tell she was undoubtedly a Pureblood Elf.


    It was as if she had been there all along, just unnoticed by Aiwass; or as if she was merely a "painted" projection that seemed somewhat ethereal under the light.


    Aiwass instantly realized this was a "Reflection in the Painting." It was an extraordinary ability that could only be learned after the "Painter" profession advanced to "Art Maestro" at level 40.


    Painters obtained a portion of the power of the Gemini Mirror, turning their paintings into mirrors. They could hide their true form within a painting, roam freely within it, and cast their projection into the real world, appearing at any ce where there existed a painting.


    To turn the real into the unreal, the unreal into the real.


    To transform reality and paintings into her own Gemini Mirror.


    All nine Paths include the ability to teleport, but "Reflection in the Painting" is one you can acquire at the lowest level and with the least cost.


    In the current version of the world, the Path of Beauty''s reflective teleportation is the only means of teleportation.


    No wonder Master Yanis could travel among the nations of the world. With the ability to teleport at will, she couldn''t be stopped by mortals, and even Transcendents had no way to prevent her.


    "¡ªOf course."


    In the presence of Master Yanis herself, Aiwass spoke fearlessly and gracefully: "Whether it''s ''Pilgrimage to the Temple of Akropolis,'' or ''Golden Dawn'' and ''The Crystal Sea,'' I am quite fond of them all."


    Although I haven''t seen them... but you''ll get to hear about them from me in time.


    Aiwass added in his mind.

 Chapter 84: 54 Yanis: How to evaluate

    Hearing the answer given by Aiwass, Yanis was clearly surprised.


    "I see..."


    Her emerald pupils dted slightly as she murmured softly.


    Isabel, standing beside her, nodded in delighted agreement, "I also love ''The Crystal Sea''."


    In her understanding, ''The Crystal Sea'' was Yanis''s masterpiece and her favorite painting.


    The fourteen-meter-long scroll was entirely created using "Demonic Painting" techniques. When viewed in the dark, one could even hear the sound of the tides.


    When the candlelight was lit¡ªjust a bit of light, when shined upon the scroll, would illuminate the entire deep blue sea.


    Light cast upon it would freeze the painted ocean into beautiful crystal with a creaking sound, and the temperature in the room would drop as a result.


    Each time the angle and brightness of the light changed, the relief patterns that emerged from the crystallization would also transform. In the summer, as the angle of the sunlight slowly shifted, the Crystal Sea would undergo endless changes in real time.


    These paintings had previously been collected in Professor Moriarty''s art museum.


    About six or seven years ago, as the Queen grew older and her body became more fragile, she couldn''t withstand the heat of the summer, and the "Silvery Frost" created by alchemy was too cold. Hence, Aiwass''s foster father, after obtaining the consent of Master Yanis, moved the painting to the Hall of Silver and Tin.


    Once the curtain of this painting was unveiled, the cool air that emerged from within could make the entire pce as refreshing as autumn. It wouldn''t be too cold, so as to avoid bing bone-chillingly frigid.


    In winter, just by covering it with a curtain, not a hint of cold air would leak out, and one could hear the peaceful sound of the tides when walking by.


    In the summer, Isabel would sometimes go there and gaze at it foolishly, watching it for an entire day without getting tired. Initially not so interested in painting and sculpture, it was after seeing this painting that Isabel resolved to pursue the career path of a Prodigy, instead of that of a Songstress.


    Her talents were actually all concentrated in singing, followed by dancing. But having been touched by the beauty in Yanis''s paintings, she experienced something akin to ''Lulu''s Magic Flute'', a sight once seen that would engrave itself deeply in her heart, never to be forgotten.


    However...


    "I remember, the teacher seemed to have even better paintings?"


    Isabel looked at Yanis, "Teacher previously told me about them. Those paintings involve the secrets of the Nine Pir Gods, Celestial Marshals, and Angel Envoys, hiding the power of the Paths.


    "It''s a kind of miracle, different from the ''Gentle Miracle'' of ''The Crystal Sea'', a more intense miracle."


    "...Ah, indeed there are,"


    Yanis nodded, "Those were painted during my travels around the world. Some are rted to the mortal wars of the Nine Pir Gods; and some with anotheryer of possibility in history..."


    Though she said this, her face did not convey any pride or arrogance.


    Aiwass knew why.


    ¡ªBecause the names of the three paintings he had mentioned corresponded to the three special mechanics used by Yanis in her level 80 high-difficulty copy "Twin Towers of Morning and Dusk Pce."


    The criteria of the Path of Beauty are harmony and art, flow and eternity; and once it involves the "solidification of beauty," it can easily lead to the belief that "all things will eventually perish," and hence to the Dusk Path, which advocates "preservation" and "solidification."


    Yanis couldn''t resist that impulse either.


    But she had already embarked on the dual Path of Bnce and Beauty and was powerless to pursue a third. Therefore, she could only control herself rationally, maintaining the bnce of her spirit.


    Painting is, after all, the art of turning a moment into eternity. While "Demonic Painting" is indeed magical and can store more information, it also loses the eternal beauty of that moment.


    So, after reaching the limits of her painting journey, Yanis returned to her roots and began to pursue "the unchanging painting."


    When she had previously conquered the Celestial Marshal of the first descent¡ªbelonging to the Path of Dusk, "Spirit Amber Celestial Marshal," she obtained its essence. But at that time, she didn''t exchange it for the essence of the Path of Beauty''s Celestial Marshal, nor did she entrust it to Transcendents of other Paths to be made into equipment.


    She wanted to create a painting that exceeded her own limits. She sought external help to guide the direction in which she was moving.


    As a result, Yanis ground it into powder using a special technique and made it into pigment. With expensive spiritual paints she procured through other means, she painted a static painting called "Skull in Amber."


    The moment that painting was created, she gained immense power and directly surpassed her realm.


    But the pity was, that power did note from the Path of Beauty. Nor was it the power of the Path of Bnce.


    It was recognition from the Path of Dusk.


    She was dragged into a non-human realm by the uncontrolled power of the Path, lost her physical body, and became a Phantom Demon.


    The unbridled Master Yanis, taking her heart as the brush and the world as her canvas, recklessly and freely painted within the Material Realm. Her painting covered the entirety of her reclusive refuge, rewriting the whole world into a canvas. Anyone approaching the vicinity would be captured and enter her painted world.


    It was with the assistance of Isabel who had grown up by that time that yers were able to evade the capture of the material canvas and stealthily approach the Phantom Demon, Lord of Morning and Dusk, Master Yanis.


    Aiwass was very impressed with this dungeon.


    Because in this dungeon, yers would sometimes switch between reality and virtuality. In the real state, it was just a normal dungeon run. But during each special action, all yers hit by her illusory brush would instantly change style and enter into the painting.


    In "Pilgrimage to the Temple of Akpolis," yers entered the Temple of Akpolis within the painting, and had a limited time to evade and assassinate the patrolling temple knights in a game resembling an overhead view stealth assassination gamey, simr to the Commandos series; while in "Golden Dawn," it turned into a side-scrolling action game in which yers kill the guards of Nephthys and then the final boss; in "Crystal Sea," yers transformed into birds, bing a flying game where they had to dodge various obstacles and attacks.


    Three paintings, threepletely different styles.


    In each painting, yers would hear Master Yanis''smentary on it. Meanwhile, yers who remained in reality could take the opportunity to deal damage to her physical form. The three paintings would y in a loop. If Master Yanis was brought below half health before all three paintings were cleared, she would instantly enter a rage; and if yers took too long in any one painting, resulting in Yanis running out ofmentary, she would also enter a rage.


    In these three looping phases, Yanis''s desire to attack wasn''t high, with simple mechanics to dodge and no regr attacks; and yers could only use the mechanics and skills bestowed by the painting, so it didn''t make much difference what profession they were once inside.


    Therefore, to save time, it wasmon practice not to keep any healers or tanks, leaving only one or two damage dealers outside to dodge and slowly whittle away at her physical form, stopping when her health was nearly at the point for transition.


    Only when all the temple knights in "Pilgrimage to the Temple of Akpolis" were killed, the boss''s health bar in "Golden Dawn" was depleted, and all the aerial hoops in "Crystal Sea" had been flown through, the surviving yers would be able to enter the fourth painting, "Skull in Amber," to face Yanis''s true form, posing as a Celestial Marshal.


    yers who died in a painting that had already closed would be forever left within that painting, meaning they couldn''t be resurrected.


    This meant that to possibly get through the fourth phase, at least one tank and one healer needed to survive. Aiwass''s regr team back then just couldn''t stop wiping... Even two months after the dungeon was released, they hardly ever entered the fourth stage with all eight yers intact.


    Aiwass had listened to Yanis''s personal interpretation of these three paintings at least three hundred times¡ªhe hadn''t really remembered thetter parts, but he had certainly memorized the beginning.


    And this dungeon was precisely a must-run.


    Not only because it dropped those three paintings, which could be hung up in a yer''s home domain; but it also dropped very good-looking clothes and a staff in the shape of a paintbrush.


    Aiwass had led many new, cute yers through this dungeon. Quite a few of them became his friends after he had brought them through it.


    The female yers in "Ring of Ouroboros" were quitebative, with many more ying PVP than PVE. However, precisely because of this, some good-looking cosmetics from difficult PVE dungeons required finding someone to lead the way.


    Aiwass didn''t y PVP much, but his friends list still included arge group of girls, half of whom he had met in this way.


    The other half were there because he was eloquent and had an attractive voice, was humorous in conversation, and could sing¡ªjust chatting in the voice channel would often result in a friend request being sent his way.


    His penchant for teasing Isabel and Lulu was not something that arose aftering to this world.


    Even before Aiwass awakened his past life memories, he had a reputation for being somewhat frivolous.


    This eloquence might just be an instinct in his soul.


    Master Yanis asked Aiwass with some curiosity, "Since you like these three paintings the most... why don''t you talk about your understanding of them?


    "I''m interested in why you like them, and I assure you I won''t let your words be in vain. If you speak substantively, I will give you something precious."


    "Then I shall humbly share my thoughts, Master Yanis."


    Aiwass smiled gently.


    His words were humble, but his expression was calm and confident.


    Of course, he had not seen these paintings, nor did he know what critiques this world''smentators might offer.


    He hadn''t even watched the interpretive videos made by yers on the forums in his previous life¡ªbecause he had grown sick of them.


    ¡ªBut Aiwass knew what Yanis''s own evaluations of the paintings were.


    After all, what one thinks of one''s own paintings, one doesn''t easily find incorrect, right?


    "I remember, ''Pilgrimage to the Temple of Akpolis,'' this painting was the first Demonic Painting you created shortly after embarking on the Path of Beauty."


    Aiwass recited fluently, non-stop: "It depicts a temple atop a lofty peak within the Eternal Theocracy, where currently resides the envoy of the Lord of Scalefeather, Hippocrates.


    "At that time, there were no professional legacies, and the ancient Transcendents often sought strength in vain. At the age of three hundred and eighty, Hippocrates realized that he had explored all the medical inheritances of the Eternal Theocracy. Therefore, he set out on foot to climb the mountain of another envoy of the Lord of Scalefeather, Akpolis, seeking medical knowledge from him.


    "This Akpolis was one of the most powerful envoys of the Lord of Scalefeather yet was amiable to mortals. If anyone could climb this mountain and worship in his temple, he would appear and treat all those who came seeking healing equally. Besides, he often appeared and strolled through the most intense and bloody battlefields, healing those soldiers with a strong will to live.


    "Some say that those soldiers who survived fatal wounds in good health did so because their desire to live earned them Akpolis''s healing..."

 Chapter 85: Chapter 55 "Golden Dawn

    ¡ª¡ªModeration.


    Having heard only the first painting''s critique, Yanis immediately understood Aiwass''s aesthetic preference.


    Moderation is not a derogatory term. It is the very Path of Beauty she herself adheres to.


    The Path of Beauty subtly influences one at a material level, allowing their image and temperament to gradually align towards their ideal "epitome of beauty." Yanis was not particrly tall among humans, nor short among elves; her physique blurred the characteristics of both male and female, and her facial temperament could not be considered mature but also not naive.


    Because "moderate aesthetics" is the most universally appealing aesthetic.


    This was Yanis''s personal understanding of the "Path of Beauty." It was also the reason why she walked the Path of Bnce.


    Unlike the sharp-tongued, astute professional critics of the Iris Flower¡ªwho always seem to find points and details Yanis herself hadn''t thought of, ones she had not paid attention to, lost in their own world as they spoke.


    Creators trante inspiration into their works, and there will inevitably be some loss in the process.


    The viewer can never truly enter the world of the painting, can never truly empathize with the thoughts and emotions of the painter during creation.


    They can only judge based on their own cognition and understanding.


    True "beauty" has a universality that moves people of different races, genders, social statuses, ages, and cultural backgrounds. But when ites to "the reason for feeling beauty," everyone''s answers are likely to vary.


    Because rather than saying they perceive beauty in the artwork, one could say they see their own reflection within it.


    Their own life, their own fantasies, their own fears, their own dreams.


    Therefore, the viewers'' answers will always bear some degree of subjectivity.


    Yanis enjoyed asking others how they judged her paintings because, as the creator, she of course knew what a "standard" answer should be.


    By asking, she could determine whether the other person had genuine knowledge and skill, how much ability and talent they had. She could also deduce the person''s character, experiences, and even their inclination towards certain paths based on the critiques they strained to express.


    It felt as if, through thesements, she saw the distilled results of numerous condensed lives. This was also a kind of psychological test, which she found endlessly fascinating.


    ¡ª¡ªBut the answer given by Aiwass took her by surprise.


    His critique was not overly tainted with his personal hues.


    It was sufficiently objective and fair, yet he did notck sensitivity. He was candid about the ws resulting from her still immature skills, while also properly praising the aspects she meticulously crafted but others overlooked.


    It was as if another version of herself¡ª a more mature version from the future¡ªhad provided a conclusive answer.


    Without a doubt, Aiwass was indeed her "kindred spirit."


    "¡­Would you be interested in embarking on the Path of Beauty?"


    Yanis couldn''t help but ask, "I think you might be the human who goes the furthest on the Path of Beauty."


    "Eh?"


    Isabel, who was by her side, was startled and looked at her teacher with surprise.


    She had never seen her teacher offer such high praise to someone!


    Even the teacher''s evaluation of her could almost be seen as low!


    What Yanis had said to her at the time was: "With your talent, you could never reach the limit on any branch of the Path of Beauty, no matter if it''s ''Songstress'' or otherwise. Choosing ''Prodigy'' was a wise decision. If you had pursued the peak of singing skills, you would have gone mad before you ever reached it."


    But for some reason, seeing her teacher recognize Aiwass so highly, she didn''t feel the slightest hint of jealousy.


    Just a sense of joy and a subtle feeling of pride.


    It was as though a friend she had found with great difficulty, upon being brought home, received high praise from her parents.


    ¡ª¡ªAnd this child was raised by me!


    Isabel silently eximed to herself.


    She didn''t dare say it out loud, because she feared being scolded¡ªshe of course knew that Aiwass was raised by Professor Moriarty and only yed the role of Aiwass''s mother in a dream. But she still couldn''t fully "exit the role," and remained unable to forget the memories of that dream.


    Therefore, these words were meant for herself only.


    It''s less about self-deception and more about not wanting to forget.


    On the other hand, Yanis''s feelings were alsoplex.


    She took Isabel as a disciple partly because she saw "beauty" in Isabel and found her adorable; another part was because she and Queen Sofia were close friends.


    Their first meeting was sixty years ago, just after Queen Sofia had ascended to the throne.


    She was still a lively teenage girl, even younger than Isabel now.


    But unlike Isabel''s personality, which waspletely different or even contrary¡ªSofia was vibrant with energy, extremely extroverted and approachable. She would often sneak out of the pce after dressing up to watch ys at the theater; or she would dress like a schoolgirl and enter schools, asking other students as a junior about their opinion on various royal decrees.


    That was Yanis''s first visit to Avalon for an art exhibition. At her own exhibit, she met the young Queen Sofia. Yanis was struck by the beauty and vivacity of the charming young girl and wanted to paint her on the spot.


    While painting, they chatted away. But halfway through, the queen''s personal guards rushed over.


    Only then did Yanis realize that this girl, who looked even younger than herself, was the newly crowned queen of this country.


    Sofia was incredibly cheerful and unbounded by tradition.


    She held much disdain for many rules and carried out numerous reforms, decisively abolishing many traditions that now seemed outdated¡ªsuch as punishments more severe than the death penalty, the convention that women could not be knights, the oldw that members of the Knight Family could only be imprisoned and not executed¡­ as well as opening up certain "forbidden arts" for teaching and learning to contribute to the prosperity of the kingdom.


    The alchemy, art, preservation arts, healing arts, and the development of professions such as the Path of Wisdom and Detective in Avalon, all began with Queen Sofia.


    Yanis had spent twenty years with this enlightened and young queen before leaving her to continue her travels around the world.


    She returned to Avalon and took Isabel as her student only because she saw the shadow of her dear friend in the girl. But in truth, she didn''t believe that Isabel could inherit her mantle.


    Art requires a vast amount of time to umte. The fivefold lifespan that separates humans from elves is an insurmountable chasm in the realm of art.


    But Aiwass was different.


    Yanis keenly perceived a beauty simr to her own in him.


    He was handsome andposed, undeniably a masculine beauty, yet at the same time, he possessed a feminine sensitivity and delicacy; his demeanor was mature, and he conducted himself in a steady manner, yet he also had the vigor of a young person; he walked the Path of Devotion as a Priest, but Yanis keenly detected an invisible arrogance, as if he looked down upon the world from high above.


    This paradoxical feeling of bnce reminded Yanis of another version of herself.


    Simr to herself, yet different¡ª


    Aiwass, upon hearing this, couldn''t help but be at a loss for words.


    This couldn''t be a coincidence.


    Guess what, Sherlock just said yesterday that I''m more suited to the Path of Wisdom. And now today, Master, you''re saying I''m suited to the Path of Beauty... How about you two have a fight?


    But let''s forget it, I''m afraid Sherlock might get beaten to death.


    After Aiwass declined once, Yanis rmended the Path of Beauty to him again. And after he refused a second time, she did not insist.


    After all, walking on the path requires not only the corresponding talent but also some conviction.


    If someone doesn''t want to, they can''t be forced.


    Being forced onto a path that one neither recognizes nor likes will eventually lead to deviation from that path. And all efforts will be in vain.


    Yanis just felt a profound sense of regret.


    Aiwass clearly had the talent for the Path of Beauty, yet hecked the desire to pursue beauty. If he had entered the Path of Beauty, his prospects would have been much brighter than those on the Path of Devotion. There was a high probability that he could reach the fifth energy level, approaching the limit for mortals.


    And considering the short lifespan of humans, his talent might even be better than hers.


    Thinking this, she made a decision.


    "Since you like my painting so much," Yanis said lightly, "then, I will give ''Golden Dawn'' to you."


    At this, Aiwass suddenly widened his eyes, feeling a tingling in his scalp.


    Even Princess Isabel couldn''t help but gasp, not daring to utter a word.


    Aiwass knew how much Yanis loved that painting¡ªamong those three paintings, "Pilgrimage to the Temple of Akpolis" was Yanis''s first Demonic Painting, an encouragement to herself determined to walk the Transcendent path, and it also hid the youthful ambition of paring herself to the Angel Envoy Hippocrates"; while "Crystal Sea" was the scene at the end of the world she had witnessed, a gift to her dear friend Sofia who could never leave ss Ind, never having the chance to see how beautiful that scene was¡­ It was a summary of her world tour, as well as the crystallization of her friendship.


    And ''Golden Dawn'' was the peak of her pure skill.


    That was a painting she made when she saw people in the Horus Empire worshipping The Sun, inspired by the stunning sight of the sunrise. It was the best painting that could be made without involving the "Power of the Path."


    After that painting, her works started to carry mystical power, capable of changing reality. It was thest painting that could flow and was viewable by all mortals, and it was also the most highly regarded work among all of Yanis''s paintings.


    A timeless masterpiece without question. Its value immeasurable.


    ¡ªWho gives such a thing away at a first meeting?!


    "Of course, it''s notpletely without conditions..."


    Yanis''s next words allowed Aiwass to finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    Good, there''s a condition. The fear is owing an indefinable favor¡ªdebts of gratitude are the hardest to repay, especially such troublesome ones that are difficult to value.


    But when Aiwass heard Yanis''s request, his expression became even more subtle.


    "You''re a prodigy, Aiwass. I believe you can do very well on the Path of Devotion... Even though you''ve just stepped into the Transcendent, your advancement will surely be swift.


    "As you can see, my student Isabel is a somewhat delicate girl. I''m not very confident about her advancement rituals.


    "If you''ve caught up with Isabel by the time of your second or third advancement ritual... could you perhaps wait for her and advance together with her? Of course, the full moon ritual is fine..."


    This request was almost as good as no request at all.


    To give a friend a boost during the full moon ritual or fend off an enemy during the new moon ritual is basically a custom in the Transcendent world.


    This was merely lending a hand when convenient.


    Having a friend on the same progress level but on a different path can offer considerable advantages on the Transcendent journey... While Yanis only asked Aiwass to help Isabel once, as long as her advancement wasn''t too much slower than Aiwass''s, this was essentially a fixed team arranged by the parents themselves.


    After all, in team y, the chances of sess are inherently higher than in solo y, and having someone you can absolutely trust is a great advantage. Thus, Aiwass had no reason to refuse.


    But when applied to Aiwass, there was a minor issue.


    "...Should I find an opportunity toy my cards on the table with the princess first?" he thought to himself.


    If she finds out I''m her "Mr. Fox" once we start the venture... would that be too hard on the youngdy''s psyche?


    Aiwass fell into deep thought.

 Chapter 86: Chapter 56: The Dream Factory of Beautiful Girls

    Princess Isabel''s talent was not weak.


    Now, midway through November, the fall of Avalon was to ur the following autumn. As members of the same protagonist team, their levels were quite simr.


    In other words, over the span of nearly ten months, both Aiwass and Princess Isabel had easily advanced to around level thirty without feeling much pressure. And level thirty was already considered the fourth Energy Level, which meant they were among the elites even in the whole Kingdom of Avalon.


    In this world, there were no yer characters, nor was there a team of adventurers¡ªa so-called "adventurer''s party"¡ªwho somehow fetched godlike powers to ovee any obstacle; that is, those other yers who formed a team through matching. Aiwass needed to build his own foundation.


    Based on the various settings his friend would frequently babble about, Aiwass could figure out the personalities, life stories, and talent directions of these key characters... as well as the theoretical paths of growth that existed only in theory.


    He knew many secrets, and in this world, secrets were power.


    But he obviously couldn''t use them all for himself.


    When one could fully utilize resources, going solo as a hero was the utmost folly. After all, there was a limit to what one person could achieve alone. But choosing the right people was even more important¡ªa mix of mediocrities, traitors, and ungrateful wretches would only have a destructive effect.


    Only those who were sufficiently reliable and trustworthy deserved to share in Aiwass''s precious experience.


    Princess Isabel was one of them.


    The future "Queen Vanhua" was a teammate he had already earmarked early on.


    Therefore, even without a special request from Master Yanis, he would have taken the initiative to get involved in Princess Isabel''s growth path. To seek better development for her.


    After all, Aiwassckedpanions. Helping her was helping himself.


    Although ording to Master Yanis''s request, Aiwass could actually dy until the third promotion¡ªat which point he could formally form a permanent team with Princess Isabel when advancing from level 29 to 30...


    ¡ªbut Aiwass felt that there was really no need to do so.


    The initial reason he assumed the identity of "Mr. Fox" was to shine in in sight. Dying it too long would be pointless.


    The reason Aiwass did not immediately volunteer the information "I am Mr. Fox" when he met with Isabel this time was because Isabel''s current character had not yet been honed andcked sufficient self-confidence.


    Because of Master Yanis''s own growth trajectory, she believed in the type that "as long as one has genuine knowledge and skills and continuously ovees difficulties, one can grow rapidly through pain." They do not need too much interference from others and do not need to correct others'' life paths¡ªevery life will have its own way out.


    So, Master Yanis tended to keep building up Isabel''s "substance." Toy a tremendously solid foundation for her, to let her learn how to handle various situations. But she would not teach Isabel the principles of life, nor would she elucidate her moods.


    Master Yanis hoped Isabel would forge ahead in life based on the truths she realized by herself.


    This wasn''t necessarily wrong, and it could even be said to be far-sighted. Because ording to the original course of history, indeed, after experiencing sudden life changes, Isabel quickly stood strong using her umted substance and continued to grow rapidly amidst a thorny path.


    From the soft and tender little girl of today to the reliable and mature queen of the future, Isabel took less than five years.


    And the Isabel of today, still tended to subconsciously choose to flee when overwhelmed.


    She was like that shy and reclusive girl. Although she also had a crush on him, if he confessed too early or too suddenly, without giving her time to prepare mentally or react, her emotions might be muddled, and she might subconsciously flee the rtionship due to not knowing how to handle it.


    ¡ªEven though it seemed like goodwill had been sufficiently established, but if one were to suddenly approach her, she might flee. Isabel was just that kind of troublesome type.


    Aiwass knew how to handle this situation.


    Essentially, it was because she wasn''t ready. A girl would flee because subconsciously, she hoped "the presentfort couldst forever," not wanting to step further into the unknown.


    In essence, Isabel was afraid of the unknown.


    And this fear was cultivated through her constant worry about the "Royal Curse" and when it might take effect.


    Every day she feared whether her father, brother, or younger brother might die of sickness; every time she fell ill, she doubted whether it was the curse or if she was going to die; because of her grandmother''s old age, she also feared the chaos and war that the queen''s death might bring about.


    After Avalon''s downfall, she was able to stabilize¡ªbecause all the worst oues she had worried about had arrived.


    So there was nothing left to fear.


    So, a calmed Isabel, for the first time when there was "no way back," did not choose to flee but courageously moved forward¡ª


    ...However, this solution could not stand in this timeline.


    Aiwass couldn''t harm Isabel just for the sake of her growth.


    If her family was destroyed both before and after the historical change, what would be the point of hising?


    ¡ªIt felt like having traveled to the start of an anime or game''s plot, where despite having changed many things, at a critical junction, one lets the familiar "original story" unfold, allowing the altered plot to return to the track of the original material, just like a fan protagonist.


    Therefore, Mr. Aiwass deliberately made another preparation.


    As early as the first advanced ceremony, Mr. Aiwass had alreadyid the groundwork. He originally nned to talk about itter, but now the timing was coincidental... Master Yanis took the initiative to propose that he hoped Mr. Aiwass would team up with the Princess.


    So, the moment to put it into action had arrived.


    At the banquet, Mr. Aiwass cheerfully dined while chatting with Isabel.


    Perhaps because her teacher was present, Isabel was a bit reserved and silent at the start, preferring to listen rather than speak.


    But after the two had a few sses of white wine, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.


    Music, poetry, philosophy, secrets... the topics were much like those Mr. Aiwass talked about with Isabel in Dreand, inside that abandoned chemical factory. This time, however, they had the more knowledgeable Master Yanis to engage in meaningful conversation with Mr. Aiwass, unlike the foolish questioning of herself in her dreams.


    This took the interest and substance of their conversation up a notch.


    Although Mr. Aiwass deliberately avoided repeating topics, his perspective, tone, and level of erudition were very much like the "Fox."


    ¡ªThis was Mr. Aiwass deliberately showing some cracks.


    He hoped Princess Isabel might vaguely guess, or realize that "Mr. Aiwass could possibly be Mr. Fox," but hesitate to speak out due to insufficient evidence.


    And for Isabel, the fact that "the Mr. Aiwass she knew in reality" and "the secret friend Fox she met in dreams" were the same person was not a bad thing... on the contrary, it would be a "good thing" that she would rather believe to be true.


    Because the identity of the "Fox" was too mysterious.


    While mystery ignites curiosity and a desire to explore, the sense of mystery retained after establishing a connection can provoke feelings of unease. And Isabel happened to be particrly afraid of this kind of unease.


    If the "Fox" continued to maintain this mystery, Isabel would inevitably start to ponder if he had reasons for not revealing his identity¡ªleading her to guess his identity might be tainted. At least, he was someone she couldn''t openly introduce to her father, grandmother, or teacher... If so, even if their rtionship was close, it could only be a private friend she couldn''t share or boast about with others.


    But Mr. Aiwass was different.


    The Moriarty Family was one of the twenty Founding Families, holding high prestige and status in Avalon.


    Though Mr. Aiwass was only Professor Moriarty''s adopted son, as long as Old Moriarty was alive, he remained a member of a Founding Family. And if Professor Moriarty made a will before his death, leaving the Moriarty Family inheritance to Mr. Aiwass... although it might be difficult due to theck of blood rtion, the chances of a sessful inheritance were not small.


    After all, Professor Moriarty had no biological children, nor any living rtives of the same generation. He could only pass it on to his adopted children.


    Just as Mr. Aiwass was now able to be directly invited to the Hall of Silver and Tin¡ª his identity was clean, his future bright.


    Bing friends with such a person would surely not be opposed by the elders.


    Could I only meet "Mr. Fox" in my dreams? If Mr. Aiwass knew of "Fox''s" existence, would he be angry? What if "Fox," upon learning my true identity, developed hostility towards me or thoughts of using me?


    ¡ªAs long as the "Fox" was Mr. Aiwass, all the problems and worries on Isabel''s mind would cease to exist.


    While Isabel hoped so in her heart, in fact, she was already preparing herself psychologically.


    For a girl who, under the slightest pressure, would spook and run away like a little animal, words from others, no matter what, might not work¡ªnot even those of her most trusted Mrs. Yanis might be willing to listen to.


    Only the thoughts within her own heart could be epted by her.


    And if the oue she hoped for came true smoothly, without any reversals or shocks¡ªthen she could build a sense of "hope."


    Among all the ways tobat fear, hope is a harmless, healthy remedy.


    What Isabelcked most was confidence. And real confidence could not be instilled by others. Only when decisions she had firmly made yielded positive feedback could her wounded spirit heal and be soothed by this feedback.


    But for that very reason, Mr. Aiwass couldn''t dy too long.


    Because a "prank" you reveal yourself and a "lie" that gets exposed are fundamentally different.


    Mr. Aiwass couldn''t truly let her catch him out, but had to reveal his identity voluntarily, admitting his initial deception. Otherwise, their rtionship would gradually begin to mix with a suspicion named "doubt." And that would also harm Isabel, causing her "avoidance" to shift to "mistrust."


    That would be fostering her the wrong way.


    For Mr. Aiwass, the process of nurturing Isabel from now on was like a beauty training camp¡ª


    Even though their rtionship wasn''t like that of a father and daughter in video games. Butpared to Isabel''s irresponsible, absent father, Mr. Aiwass who helped Isabel in her dreams, chose a brighter future for her, chatted and yed with her, encouraged her growth and learning, treated her psychological illness, personally cultivated her self-esteem and confidence, and prevented her from being hurt in the future...


    ¡ªPerhaps he was more like her real father than her biological one.

 Chapter 87: Chapter 57 "The Enigmatic" Moriarty

    Mr. Aiwass and Miss Lily arrived at the Hall of Silver and Tin at half-past five in the afternoon, and it wasn''t even fully dark.


    As a result, they hadn''t finished eating until quarter to nine in the evening.


    There was no ball, nor were there other people. It was simply Mr. Aiwass, Princess Isabel, and Master Yanis chatting non-stop.


    The first round of food had gone cold before they were finished, so a second round was served.


    It included roasted apples, sponge cake, and pan-seared foie gras with scallops...


    In the middle of it all, Princess Isabel realized that Lily, the maid standing behind Mr. Aiwass, seemed a bit hungry, and she warmly invited her to sit down and eat together. She had drunk three sses of wine by that point, her cheeks were slightly flushed, yet her eyes shone even brighter.


    Even though it was against etiquette for a maid to dine at the same table as the illustrious princess... Lily was indeed hungry. She had eaten something before leaving home, but as a mortal who had been standing straight behind Mr. Aiwass, it had been quite draining.


    ording to the rules, whether she could sit and eat depended on the attitude of her master, Mr. Aiwass.


    Mr. Aiwass not only agreed but even asked Princess Isabel if Lily could sit and rest at the table after finishing her meal instead of continuing to stand behind him. Princess Isabel readily agreed.


    All three weren''t the types to fuss over "rules"¡ªIsabel had mostly been raised by her grandmother, Queen Sofia, and Yanis had even aplished the feat of walking around the world solo. As for Mr. Aiwass, with his Transcendence level of Adaptation, rules mattered even less.


    Thus the trio''s banquet happily turned into a party of four and continued.


    As Mr. Aiwass''s personal maid, Lily was to maintain a certain decorum¡ªshe didn''t have to wear the uniform maid''s dress like the others but could dress in her own, nice clothes when going out with Mr. Aiwass.


    Lily, who also came from the Knight Family, looked every bit like one of ss Ind''s youngdies in both appearance and demeanor. Moreover,pared to the youngdies of the Royal Capital, who were more obsessed with maintaining their beauty and figure, Lily, because of her upbringing, had a stronger desire for knowledge and had read more books, bestowing her with a calm, intellectual air that made her seem more like a youngdy.


    When she sat down, there was not the slightest sense of incongruity. In fact, when literary topics were mentioned, she was able to smoothly add a couple of lines after being questioned by Master Yanis.


    Seizing the opportunity, Mr. Aiwass also put forth his request.


    "...Indeed, Mr. Aiwass does need someone to take care of him,"


    Princess Isabel nodded slightly in agreement, "Are you hoping for Miss Lily to apany him to university..."


    She turned her head and quietly asked Yanis, "Teacher, does my word count in this sort of matter?"


    Having drunk several sses of wine¡ªalthough it was only a low-proof sweet wine¡ªIsabel had be noticeably more talkative. The timidity that often characterized her had also diminished quite a bit.


    If this more rxed state was considered her true self and desires, then it also indirectly revealed the true character of Princess Isabel.


    "Of course, my darling,"


    Yanis, who had drunk at least twice as much as Isabel with no visible effect, simplyughed, "This is the Royal University of Law. Naturally, you have the final say."


    "Then, instead of a maid''s ess to the ssroom, I would like to arrange for Miss Lily to have a student status directly. I believe that she deserves to further her education at the university more than many of its students... Would that be okay?"


    After saying all this in one breath, Isabel herself seemed unsure, "Is that too willful?"


    Because she was not sure if it would cause trouble for others'' work.


    This princess, who had never acted willfully before and thus didn''t even know the extent of her own privileges, hesitated for a moment.


    Continue your adventure with m|v-l''e -NovelBin


    "Of course that''s okay," Yanis couldn''t help butugh, "You''re truly adorable... such a good girl. Such a small matter only needs yourmand, and all the paperwork and procedures will be taken care of."


    "Even though, on many troublesome administrative issues, the opinions of the Round Table Hall are more important than those of the Hall of Silver and Tin, don''t forget that even the ministers'' decrees need the queen''s signature to take effect. You shouldn''t underestimate your own worth¡ªwith you belittling yourself, others will only belittle you more. The dregs always prey on the weak."


    "Trust me, Sofia wouldn''t mind this at all; she would only feel relieved because you''ve finally recognized your identity and learned to wield your power."


    "So, it''s settled then, Miss Lily!"


    Princess Isabel looked expectantly at Lily.


    ¡ªFrom now on, you''ll be my junior!


    Wonderful, I''ve gained another friend!


    "...Thank you, Princess Isabel, thank you, Mr. Aiwass, thank you, Master Yanis!"


    Realizing that this moment could change the course of her life, Lily stood up excitedly to bow, hurriedly thanking the three of them.


    "Here''s what we''ll do, Lily."


    Yanis took over, arranging with even more proficiency than Isabel, "Mr. Aiwass is currently not well enough to move around, so I don''t think he should continue living at home. From the White Queen District to the Red Queen District, there''s also a bit of distance... If you were just pushing a wheelchair, it would take over two hours. That would be rather troublesome for you."


    "No, it''s fine for me..."


    "I know."


    Yanis interrupted, "But after all, you are students, young people. You need more sleep, and some time to socialize with ssmates. However, like Isabel, you really aren''t suited for living in student dorms...

 Chapter 88: Chapter 57 "The Enigmatic" Moriarty_2

    "So I think there are two methods. One is to purchase a residence near the school and then you can move there. The advantage is that it''s secluded enough and there''s plenty of private space, and you don''t have to follow the school for food and other living expenses, but the downside is that it might not be safe."


    "After all, within the school, you have the protection of tutors, but both of youck self-protection abilities, living alone outside will always present many inconveniences, and if there''s only one maid, I''m afraid Lily will be very busy, taking up much of her study time. In that case, you might need to have Oswald move over with servants and a cook to apany you."


    In the Avalon Kingdom, unlike Star Antimony and Iris Flower with their noble systems, even the Knight Families are strictly limited in the scale of servants they can employ. This was to prevent the Knight Families, who had mastered Transcendent knowledge, from secretly developing their own private Transcendent militias.


    In some sense, this also restricted the activities of the Knight Families.


    Because the main house and estate are toorge, they require a lot of servants to maintain. Typically, when family members need to move out temporarily, they are only apanied by their personal male and female servants.


    "That definitely won''t do," Aiwass shook his head, "Although my father is away on a trip and won''t be home for a while, Yulia needs more care and protection than I do."


    Especially since he couldn''te home often, she would probably feel lonelier.


    "So the other method is to have someone clear out a separate dormitory room for you at the school, and you both can live there. Since it''s still inside the school, all issues regarding food, hygiene, and safety can be solved within it."


    "...Huh?"


    It was Isabel who seemed at a loss, "Does Miss Lily need to live with Mr. Aiwass? That might be... inconvenient, right?"


    "Isn''t that precisely what a personal maid is for?"


    Yanis retorted.


    She stared at Isabel and suddenly understood something, unable to suppress herughter: "Ah, I see... Are you thinking about that kind of thing?"


    "What do you understand, teacher?"


    Isabel was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.


    "As far as I know, in order to prevent the vigorous young men from being seduced by unclean women outside and bing ill, or leaving illegitimate children unrecognized by their families... Before they are assigned their matched fiancees by their families, these young lords'' needs are usually taken care of by their personal maids."


    The age-unknown elfdy spoke openly and with interest: "What about you, Aiwass? You don''t need that, do you?"


    Upon hearing this, Lily blushed and silently lowered her head.


    And Isabel''s eyes widened in shock.


    Aiwass just smiled and tactfully avoided the question: "It seems you must have heard some rumors about me."


    "One could say, seeing is believing."


    Yanis smiled, shaking her head with profound implication: "Indeed, you have a way with words, like a fox... Rather, you''re even better than I imagined, more charismatic than the rumors suggest."


    "...Huh? What reputation?"


    As someonepletely disconnected from the circles of gossip due to having no friends, Isabel felt somewhat puzzled.


    "You don''t think you''re the only one who can see Aiwass''s charm, do you, little Isabel?"


    Yanis teased with a smile: "Our Mr. Aiwass may have skippeding to college, but he was already a heartthrob in high school. The descendants of the Knight Families are also public figures, and even ''girlfriends'' are not allowed to be chosen by oneself ¡ª because others might make unnecessary interpretations of the choice of girlfriend, which could even end up in various news outlets, causing trouble for the parents. My newspaper has reported on some simr stories."


    "Aiwass, whom many suspected of having unclean rtionships because he liked to freely spread his charm among his peers, was notorious as a yboy in the Royal Capital circles. He was famous even before he made the newspapers."


    "At that time, Aiwass wasn''t yet attacked by the Demon Schr and confined to a wheelchair; he also had good athletic results, was very good at cricket. He grew up tall and handsome early on, was witty and humorous in conversation, and treated girls with respect."


    "Quite a few girls were jealous over him, and many considered themselves his girlfriends ¡ª although it waster proved to be a one-sided illusion, it nevertheless left its mark on Aiwass''s reputation."


    In fact, they weren''t wrong about their gossip about themselves.


    Aiwass thought to himself.


    He certainly had a bit of a bad character in that respect. He never cared to hide his own shine, instead freely radiating charm and warmth. Yet at the same time, he seldom wished to respond to the love others directed at him.


    It was just because he felt that the other person was still far from stirring his heart.


    ¡ª¡ªEven before the awakening of his previous life''s memory, Aiwass''s heart held some pride. That pride had nothing to do with knowing the "plot," but was closer to the essence of his soul.


    The biggest difference in personality before and after the awakening of his previous life''s memory was that Aiwass used tock social experience and was not so scheming... At that time, he was quite naive, daring to meet pen pals alone.


    After all, there wasn''t inte in this era. It was normal for young people to be naive.


    And it was actually difficult to hide Aiwass''s reputation from before.


    For the time being, Aiwass truly had no special feelings for Isabel.


    Nowadays, he was busy improving himself, changing the future, andbating the apocalypse; he was incredibly upied.


    The energy he expended on the princess was entirely focused on how to help her grow stronger, gain confidence, and ovee her shorings, leaving no room for romantic feelings.


    ¡ª¡ªBut he also couldn''t definitively say that he would never have feelings in the future.


    After all, she was indeed very beautiful.


    Honestly, that was the main reason.


    Besides, she also had a kind and steadfast heart. And she was a reliable teammate to whom one could entrust his back.


    After spending a long time together, it was not impossible for feelings to develop over time... Lying to oneself was meaningless.


    ¡ª¡ªAnd by then, prolonged concealment would be a malicious deception.


    Therefore, Aiwass was rather grateful that Master Yanis chose this moment to pierce through this thin veil of secrecy.


    It was better to speak of such matters sooner rather thanter, to avoid unnecessary halos.


    But what perplexed Aiwass was that Isabel didn''t have much of a reaction to this.


    She simply looked up subconsciously at Lily and then at the teacher, as if pondering something.


    It was then that Yanis looked towards Aiwass, their eyes meeting: "After all, he is also from the ''Moriarty'' lineage. Everyone knows Old James''s reputation for picking foster children is notoriously fierce. Aiwass, just like his brothers and sisters, is born to be noticeable and loved."


    ...Brothers and sisters?


    Aiwass felt a sudden jolt in his heart upon hearing this.


    I have a sister? Howe I didn''t know?


    Just as he was about to ask, a servant at the door knocked to announce that the person who hade to pick up Aiwass had arrived.


    Implicitly, it meant that the time was up¡ªit was time to send him off.


    They couldn''t possibly let Aiwass stay overnight at the Hall of Silver and Tin, could they?


    It was only then that the three of them realized that it was already nine o''clock in the evening, unnoticed. It was time for Isabel to go to sleep.


    ¡ª¡ªAlthough it sounded incredible, Isabel did indeed go to bed this early.


    "You haven''t met Aiwass''s big brother yet, it will be a good opportunity to meet him," Yanis said with a smile as she stood up. "He is also an exceptionally outstanding young man. He was famously excellent during his school days..."


    "...By the way, Master Yanis."


    The servant hurriedly interjected, "The person who hase is not Mr. Edward Moriarty.


    "Just now, another warehousebustion incident urred in the White Queen District, and Chief Inspector Edward is suddenly upied and cannot make it.


    "The person here to fetch Mr. Aiwass is Mr. Sherlock Hermes, the Counselor."

 Chapter 89: Chapter 58 Young and Promising

    When Sherlock entered the room, he subconsciously raised his eyebrows.


    He noticed at first nce that there was too little food on the table, and too much of it had been eaten.


    Unlike Avalon and Star Antimony, the Knight-foundednd here did not advocate the virtue of frugality. Here, holding a banquet was a matter of glory¡ªif the food and drink were nearly consumed, but the banquet was far from over, it would be considered rude.


    It was because the host had prepared too little food, causing the guests to have to leave early to end their journey. Therefore, when the guests realized the food was almost gone, they would deliberately eat less to save face for the host.


    So this couldn''t be the first round of dishes. It should be the second round.


    By the same token, if running out of food was rude, then recing and serving a second round was a way of showing importance and retention. The implication was, "I''ve just served you a fresh and hot second helping, would you be rude to leave now?"


    "... Good evening, Mr. Sherlock."


    Princess Isabel was the first to speak, "It''s a pleasure to see you."


    ¡ª¡ªWhy the sudden pleasure?


    Sherlock was somewhat puzzled inside, but he was impable in terms of etiquette.


    "By the Silver-Crowned Dragon."


    Not daring to look up at the princess, he knelt on one knee with one hand to his chest, bowed his head, and offered the Knight''s greeting, "I hope all is well with Your Highness."


    "Please rise, Mr. Sherlock,"


    Isabel said in her clear voice.


    Only then did Sherlock dare to stand up and greeted Master Yanis, who was still sitting at the table, and Aiwass, who was sitting in a wheelchair.


    Yanis responded with a smile and a nod, while Aiwass, who was not able to move, had Lily bow slightly on his behalf in return.


    Quickly after standing up, Sherlock''s sharp eyes flitted across the room, noticing Princess Isabel''s slightly flushed face.


    ¡ª¡ªHas she drunk that much?


    He was a bit surprised.


    It seemed that Master Yanis ced great importance on Mr. Aiwass.


    Otherwise, she would have stopped Her Highness from drinking too much¡ªas a matter of etiquette, important figures generally do not drink much at banquets, only having a polite sip or two. If someone finishes a ss and then refills, it indicates too familiar an attitude, showing too much importance to the asion.


    That itself was a political signal.


    If Master Yanis considered Aiwass an unimportant guest, she would have signaled Isabel to maintain a distance.


    But now, it seemed more than just one or two drinks were involved.


    Looking at the two empty bottles on the table... the three of them actually drank two bottles of wine?


    The servants of the Hall of Silver and Tin would certainly sell that information. Sherlock knew... some of them were connected to a minister or a Knight Family. Sometimes, he too would buy some information from them.


    Which means.


    By tomorrow morning at thetest, the information about Princess Isabel''s fondness for Aiwass Moriarty would reach the desks of several ministers.


    So promising at a young age....


    Upon this thought, Sherlock had a sudden realization:


    ... speaking of which.


    During the ceremony, Her Highness once yed the role of Little Aiwass'' mother... she wouldn''t still be stuck in character, would she?


    "Speaking of which, Mr. Sherlock. I heard you and Chief Inspector Edward handled some cases? Have you eaten this evening? Why not sit down for some food?"


    "... I dare not."


    Sherlock hurriedly and politely declined.


    But he still symbolically took a piece of bread in his hand, signaling that he had epted the food offered by the princess.


    He knew it was gettingte, around the Princess''s bedtime, and she surely had finished eating. He wouldn''t dare make Isabel apany him for a meal because of himself.


    If his father knew about this, he would probably give him a thrashing.


    With this in mind, Sherlock suddenly noticed the slight upward curve of the young princess''s lips, realizing she might indeed be a little drunk.


    ... She was probably teasing him on purpose now.


    In the dream before, as the only experienced senior in the team, he had scolded the naive "Lulu" several times.


    Basically, it was his word only, with no room for her to retort. But now, back to reality... in the Hall of Silver and Tin, their positions hadpletely reversed.


    There was nothing he could do about it.


    After all, he had exposed his own identity... it wasn''t her fault.


    But Sherlock soon faced a dilemma.


    If it were just the princess and Master Yanis, he could have spoken directly. He could also take the opportunity to remind Master Yanis about Mr. Fox, who seemed both dangerous and mysterious.


    ... but Aiwass was still there.


    While Sherlock was very optimistic about Aiwass, he couldn''t divulge Princess Isabel''s private information in front of an outsider.


    After all, it was a matter only he and Isabel knew about.


    If he disclosed it here, wouldn''t that suggest he might also leak or even sell the young princess''s personal information elsewhere? Loyal to Queen Sofia, Sherlock certainly would not engage in actions that could jeopardize the royal family.


    ... but now the problem arose.


    How could the straightforward Sherlock exin his motive for looking into the Sweater Brothers Association now?


    So Sherlock pondered for a moment and thought of a way to respond that only Isabel could understand:


    "I inadvertently learned from a rather unreliable gentleman about a gathering point of the Strangler Party in the Lohar District."


    Sherlock hinted somberly, "They might be rted to the mastermind behind the Pelican Bar. Considering the risks of going there alone, I invited my friend, Edward Moriarty, to apany me."


    "Then, what were the results of the investigation?"


    Aiwass suddenly interrupted, visibly interested in the topic.


    "It went smoothly. It indeed was a gathering ce for a group calling themselves the ''Sweater Brothers Association.'' We also found a batch of alchemical bombs."


    "It seems," Aiwass said with a smile, "that the ''rather unreliable gentleman'' turned out to be quite reliable after all."


    Sherlock neither agreed nor disagreed, silent for a moment before adding, "However, after a brief interrogation, they themselves didn''t know they were bombs. They were just paid to guard the goods."


    "I suspect their mastermind has contacts within the customs office. Because these bombs came through the customs via regr channels¡ªI went with Edward this afternoon specifically to check, and these goods had a proper invoice and abel indicating they passed inspection."


    The detective with ck curly hair and a typicallynguid expression now appeared quite confident, "This is very important intelligence, a crucial breakthrough.


    "Following this clue, we immediately took control of the logistics batches and arrival times of the remaining bombs. If we continue our investigation using this timeline, we''ll be able to identify all the customs officers on duty that day."


    "Princess Isabel, I could even say this¡ªthe case has essentially been solved. The remaining work is nothing more than repetitive, low-skill investigative tasks."


    He did not hide this from Aiwass, as there was absolutely no need.


    The other person involved in this case was Aiwass''s older brother. He was not one to always follow the rules, and if Aiwass were to ask, he would definitely tell.


    "...Additionally, Princess Isabel. The identity of ''Bone Sculptor'' is almost locked down, while the investigation into ''Mr. Fox'' has yet to begin."


    Sherlock inquired respectfully, "Which should we pursue first, Bone Sculptor or Mr. Fox?"


    He had not written the report yet.


    But once he submitted the report to the Queen, she would most likely consult Princess Isabel''s opinion... After all, it also involved Isabel''s own advancement ceremony. Only she and Sherlock knew what had happened inside. With Queen Sofia''s wisdom, she would certainly not interfere unnecessarily.


    By then, it would still be necessary to solicit Isabel''s opinion during the investigation¡ªso it would be better to proactively ask now, which would also allow him to retain some initiative.


    "Let''s pursue Bone Sculptor. We need to quickly eliminate any potential threats to Avalon. I will support your investigation, and if there''s any part that requires a signature, you cane to me," Isabel said after a moment of thought, ncing at Aiwass with a somewhat vague response.


    Aiwass blinked.


    At this moment, Isabel began to have some doubts.


    But the answer she gave surprised Sherlock¡ªhe indeed did not want to look for "Mr. Fox," which is why he deliberately said the identity of "Bone Sculptor" was almost confirmed, hoping to lead Isabel''s decision through this tactic.


    After all, in his view, Isabel had quite an attachment to her "Mr. Fox."


    ¡ªIs it because of Aiwass?


    If that were the case, then nothing could be better.


    Compared to the cunning and sweet-talking "Fox" of uncertain identity, he found Aiwass to be intelligent and decisive, humble and polite. Beyond that, he also greatly respected his own Professor Moriarty¡ªhis mathematics grades hadn''t been so good at the time, and it was only with Professor Moriarty''s coaching that he was able to maintain his position as top student until graduation.


    It was also thanks to Professor Moriarty''s guidance that Sherlock came to realize his real talent actuallyy on the Path of Wisdom. He never really appreciated the ts of the Path of Authority; it was only because he strictly controlled his own will and led others that he inadvertently conformed to the Path of Authority.


    And it was his friend Edward through whom he got to know Professor Moriarty.


    Edward was the only true friend Sherlock made at university.


    Therefore, his opinion of Aiwass was somewhat tinged with personal sentiments.


    "When you leave, be careful on your way," said Master Yanis.


    "Do you have a short sword on you, Sherlock?" she asked.


    "Yes," Sherlock replied, "Edward brought me one."


    Many spells of the Path of Authority required holding this short sword to be used because this sword was a symbol of the identity of Avalon''sw enforcement officers, representing "thew." In a sense, it was essentially a kind ofw wand that could also be used as a closebat weapon, restricted to the Path of Authority.


    The reason Edward carried two swords when he went out wasn''t that he wanted to wield two des, but because one of them was for Sherlock''s self-defense.


    Sherlock wasn''t an Inspector; he was merely a Counselor. He had no sword to wear.


    By refusing to enter into Avalon''s system ofw magic, he rendered a good portion of thew magic he learned unusable. Those unwilling to submit to superiors and follow order were stripped of their power¡ªthis was also characteristic of the Path of Authority.


    "Then that''s good."


    Yanis nodded and said to Aiwass, "I will have someone deliver the painting to your hometer, you shouldn''t carry it yourselves. It would be very dangerous¡ªat least Sherlock certainly won''t be able to keep it safe."


    "What painting?"


    Upon hearing this, Sherlock was taken aback and asked reflexively, "I think it should be fine."


    He was, after all, a Legal Mage who had barely had the opportunity to reach the fourth energy level, not someone small-time thieves could easily mess with.


    "It''s ''The Golden Dawn''."


    Aiwass, sitting in his wheelchair, spoke softly and gently, "Master Yanis and I had a very enjoyable conversation, so she decided to give me the painting."


    Sherlock was momentarily stunned, then suddenly shocked.


    A clear look of astonishment appeared on his face, and the iprehensible reality left his mind momentarily nk.


    ¡ª''The Golden Dawn''?!


    Was a national treasure level piece of art something to be given away just because of an "enjoyable conversation"?!


    ¡­ To be young and aplished, young and aplished indeed!


    Sherlock didn''t know how to react, he could only repeat in his mind.

 Chapter 90: Chapter 59 Flame Spirit

    Crossing Gryphon Bridge, Sherlock, walking alongside, nced at the maid, Lily, who was pushing Aiwass''s wheelchair, and quietly began to speak:


    "Really, I didn''t expect Master Yanis to give that painting to you."


    "I didn''t expect it either,"


    Aiwass answered honestly.


    "Although Master Yanis seems very approachable, she is actually quite proud. If you don''t earn her approval, Master Yanis will just smile sarcastically and look at you with an expression as if staring at a fool, without saying a word,"


    Sherlock softly hinted, "The Master values you greatly... does she want you to follow the Path of Beauty?"


    "Yes,"


    Aiwass nodded and joked, "She wants me to be the princess''s junior brother."


    "I guess you must have refused," Sherlock said without hesitation.


    "Indeed. How did you guess?" Aiwass asked.


    "Because I don''t see a passion for art in you."


    Sherlockughed, "Actually, I quite like ying the violin. I think I y pretty well... it''s just that I never had the opportunity to follow the Path of Beauty."


    Aiwass blinked, "It''s not toote now, Mr. Sherlock."


    "No, it''s already toote. Or rather, from the very beginning, I should not have chosen the path of Authority. Bnce, Wisdom, and Beauty... any of these would have suited me better."


    Sherlock turned to Aiwass and said with heartfelt sincerity, "I hope that you don''t spend a long time on a path only to realizeter that you have no passion for it. The suitability of a path is based on talent, but not necessarily on interest... but I believe interest is more important than talent. Talent determines how high you can reach, but interest determines your adaptability on that path.


    "If you have no slight interest in a path, but the attraction of high positions on it makes you madly want to advance further... believe me, that kind of self-torment will drive you insane."


    "...Thank you very much for sharing your experience, Mr. Sherlock."


    Aiwass knew that all Sherlock had said was valuable advice. It was a sincere warning,ing from the heart.


    And he hadn''t met Sherlock many times, nor was he the emotionally driven type like Isabel¡ªthis kindness undoubtedly stemmed from his elder brother, Edward.


    Therefore, Aiwass became somewhat curious.


    Because he actually didn''t know Edward that well. Edward was much older than himself and Yulia. Rather than a brother, he was more like an uncle. They also didn''t interact much... In Aiwass''s memory, there weren''t many stories about Edward. He even couldn''t remember Edward''s full name.


    However, Edward was the direct cause of Aiwass''s death in the plot¡ªhe, following his adoptive father''s orders,unched a fatal spell attack on the yers, and Aiwass took that deadly blow for the yer.


    Although his primary target wasn''t Aiwass, nowadays Aiwass couldn''t help but shiver when he thought of Edward.


    "I have a question, Mr. Sherlock..."


    Unable to hold back, Aiwass asked, "How do you know my brother?"


    "We were ssmates,"


    Sherlock answered sinctly, "He was the only good friend I made during my university days."


    "...But if I remember correctly," Aiwass began, "Mr. Sherlock, you''re just over twenty years old this year, right?"


    "I''m twenty-six this year," Sherlock replied.


    "But my elder brother is already thirty-five... How did you two be ssmates?" Aiwass pressed.


    Upon hearing this, Sherlock couldn''t help butugh.


    He exined, "It''s not only young people like you who have risen from secondary school that can go to university.


    "Like you at your age, Edward did not graduate from the Royal Law University. He graduated from Milton University in Grei County,"


    Although the Royal Law University is thergest and oldest Transcendent university in Avalon, it is not the only one.


    Over three hundred years ago, several professors from the Royal Law University were used by their own students of "teaching heretical doctrines not permitted by His Majesty the King" and were sentenced to the gruesome penalty of boiling alive. To be specific, it was the forbidden knowledge of the Path of Wisdom and the Path of Bnce.


    And following strong protests, that generation''s King reluctantly changed the sentence to parading stripped of clothes through the streets. Those professors, unwilling to ept such humiliation, fled the Royal Law University.


    The Bishop of Milton from the Eternal Theocracy had just established a Theological Seminary in Grei County, far from ss Ind.


    Upon hearing of the professors'' plight, the young elf felt sympathy and thus sheltered them. Later, as many people wanted to escape from ss Ind which was infested with Inspectors and the "Eye of Avalon," Milton University gradually acquired a fairly strong faculty. Although its enrollment size and campus area were far less than the Royal Law University... their teaching quality wasn''t inferior.


    Before Queen Sofia opened the fifth and sixth divisions of the University of Law, Milton University was the only Transcendent institution in Avalon that taught "heretical doctrines" and "forbidden spells." Due to Bishop Milton''s close rtionship with the Eternal Theocracy, the Hall of Silver and Tin chose to turn a blind eye to this.


    Today, the Dean of Milton is still alive¡ªeven after the destruction of Avalon by the Star Antimony people, Milton University still exists as a refuge during the chaos of war.


    "After graduating from Milton University, Edward continued his education at two more universities. Ultimately, he bypassed the Supervisory Bureau, joined the Supervisory Court, and got his own Gryphon as transportation.

 Chapter 91: Chapter 59: Flame Spirit_2

    "Seven years ago, he pursued legal studies at the Faculty of Law at the Royal Law University, learning Law Magic... He was already twenty-seven years old at that time, and I had just turned eighteen."


    Sherlock spoke with a hint of nostalgia, "When I first entered the university, my personality was quite solitary. I thought everyone else was a noisy bunch of idiots¡ªchildish, foolish, and impulsive. Even though they were university students, and at a ce like the Royal Law University, they seemed no different from elementary school children. Only a very few smart individuals from the countryside could hold a proper conversation... Yet their knowledge was far from sufficient, and we had littlemon ground to discuss."


    "So I didn''t want to socialize with my peers. The professors at the school were the ones I interacted with most, hoping to borrow their private collections. And this habit of frequently seeking advice from various tutors further alienated me from those dimwits."


    "Once, I went to ask Professor Moriarty a question about astronomy, but I was bitten by Edward''s gryphon outside his office door."


    "His gryphon wasn''t of pure blood, its feather color was a bit darker than the regr Red Gryphon''s, and it was slightlyrger. Maybe that''s why it was even more short-tempered... Edward wasn''t a Light Cavalryman, so he couldn''tmunicate with his gryphonpanion through the soul. He also came to see Professor Moriarty, and the gryphon was perched at the entrance."


    "But as I tried to push the door, the door-guarding gryphon bit me directly. One bite was enough to tear my flesh to shreds, and two bites nearly severed my thigh... Edward quickly took me to the Cathedral of Candle Master, where the Archbishop personally used the Illumination Art on me, so I didn''t end up with a disability or a scar."


    "Although Archbishop Your Excellency healed all my injuries, I was indeed traumatized. And there was always this faint pain in my leg that lingered, only slowly fading away after two weeks. Edward visited me at home and talked to me. I soon realized that he was a very intelligent person... He also possessed transcendent wisdom. Although his personality differed from mine, we were undoubtedly of the same kind¡ªsmart people without friends."


    "¡ªAnd so we became friends with each other. We studiedw together. I was a beginner, and he an advanced student. But we still foundmon topics to discuss. Afterwards, he taught me boxing¡ªhe was adept at it and could even infuse Authority Force into his punches, stronger than any boxer I knew. If he decided to enter the ring, he would still be a star in Avalon... Such is a genius, outstanding in whichever field they pursue."


    At Aiwass''s inquiry, Sherlock began to talk about his experiences with Edward.


    He clearly enjoyed talking about this topic. He didn''t change the subject until he dropped Aiwass off at his front door.


    And at the gate of Moriarty Manor, Aiwass noticed a pitch-ck gryphon in the yard, with crimson pupils, reminiscent of rubies that were a deeper shade.


    ¡ªHe recognized it at a nce; it was the gryphon raised by Edward.


    Hadn''t Edward left on an errand, leaving Sherlock to pick him up?


    How did he return before him?


    With that thought, Aiwass asked casually, "What was my brother going to do again?"


    "It''s still the warehouse fire incident," Sherlock replied, "It may also be rted to those people at the Pelican Bar."


    "All the evidence suggests that it''s very simr to ''Little Jack Codfish Warehouse''s'' fire incident from a few days ago¡ªboth had traces of me Spirit and both were in unmanned warehouses, with no casualties. However, this time it happened in an abandoned stone warehouse... We haven''t found amon denominator yet. But Edward immediately went to take over the case, so he should be able to figure it out."


    "Oh, right. Do you know what me Spirit is?"


    "Sort of like demon''s blood, a mildly salty red powder, simr to salt. It''s just a trace left in the Material Realm by fire attribute Phantom Demons," Aiwass answered.


    "Indeed, but that''s the standard definition. Fire attribute Phantom Demons are quite rare, but artificial me Spirits aren''t tooplicated to replicate with alchemy, and the raw material is just ordinary sulfur. So when the Supervisory Bureau talks about me Spirits, they usually refer to ''imitation me Spirits.'' Imitation me Spirits have lower purity than natural me Spirits, but their effects and uses are more or less the same," Sherlock exined.


    "It''s amon casting material for magicians. It''s also one of the ritual materials that a Demon Schr must use to summon any demon."


    "Just as ''salt'' is the essence of the sea, and when proportionally added to water can turn it into seawater, enhancing the concept of ''water,'' a little bit of me Spirit added to a fire can make the mes burn more fiercely, enhancing the concept of ''fire.''


    "For lower-level magicians who don''t rely on me Spirit, it''s difficult to produce high-temperature mes. It''s considered a necessity and at the same time, a restricted and dangerous substance."


    "With a sufficient amount of me Spirit, things that normally wouldn''t burn can ignite due to the enhanced fire concept... Like ice, steel, or stone. This time, what caught fire was the stone in the stone warehouse."


    Hearing this, Mr. Aiwass''s expression briefly froze.


    ...Wait a minute?


    Something seemed off.


    Mr. Aiwass remembered... wasn''t it Veronica, the evil sorcerer from the Pelican Bar, who first caused the warehouse to explode? Because she had controlled the Shadow Demon, she went to summon a demon again the following day. If her demon summoning failed, then indeed, the failed ritual could have led to the warehouse explosion.


    But she had already been killed by Mr. Aiwass himself.


    Could it be that The Association had sent someone else to summon a demon?


    But that didn''t make sense either... Having failed once, they wouldn''t let a novice, who might fail the ritual again, have another go, would they?


    Sherlockforted him, "Don''t be afraid, this case is practically solved.


    "Because different schools, different methods of alchemists synthesizing me Spirits, there are slight differences in purity and structure, just like salt extracted from different seas vary inposition. The previous batch of me Spirits has been sent for analysis, andbined with this batch... once the final results are out, we''ll know where their me Spirits came from." Enjoy more content from m-v l''e|-NovelBin


    With doubt in his heart, Mr. Aiwass bid farewell to Sherlock.


    Butler Oswald, who had emerged from the manor, nodded to Lily and took over Mr. Aiwass''s wheelchair.


    "You''ve returned at just the right time, Mr. Aiwass."


    The usually silent old elf bowed slightly after entering the door and said softly, "Pleasee and heal Miss Julia first. The youngdy is not in good condition."


    ...Strange, didn''t I treat her this morning?


    Mr. Aiwass was puzzled, but he did not speak up.


    He gestured for Lily to leave, and then pushed Mr. Aiwass into Julia''s room.


    Mr. Aiwass''s eyes suddenly widened.


    He saw Julia bound by silver glowing restraints, while Edward stood by, stern-faced, his pupils shining with white brilliance.


    Julia, drenched in cold sweat with her consciousness clearly blurred, hadn''t noticed Mr. Aiwass entering. She was whispering nonsense in a low voice like someone in a high fever, words that were iprehensible to others.


    Her nightgown bore tant scorch marks, and her pale skin was covered with red, glowing cracks resembling cracked porcin or ss shattered under the heat of summer. asionally, faint tongues of fire would emerge from the cracks, only to be suppressed back again.


    Edward controlled the silver chains binding Julia, squeezing her body, forcibly "gluing" her shattered body back together with external force.


    Only when Mr. Aiwass drew closer did he notice Julia''s sweat was not transparent... but a very light shade of blood.


    ¡ªLeaving behind a red powder at the moment of drying.

 Chapter 92: Chapter 60 Reliable Siblings

    Aiwass hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously reached out to touch the red powder left on Yulia''s forehead.


    He felt a scorching sensation at his fingertips¡ªit was like touching hot water just poured into a ss through the ss, making his fingers unconsciously feel a burning pain.


    The sweat Yulia had exuded was now transformed into the me Spirit secreted by the "Defiant me Butterfly" inside her!


    Suddenly, Aiwass recalled that the day after the first warehousebustion incident... which was the day Senior Hayna visited his home, Yulia had only just woken up in thete afternoon, looking extraordinarily weak.


    And just now... even though it was only a warehousebustion incident, Edward had abandoned the idea of taking Aiwass home and instead sent Sherlock away and dealt with the matter alone. When he returned, he was even earlier than Sherlock.


    Aiwass immediately realized who the "culprit" behind the two warehousebustion incidents was¡ª


    This was never about a Demon Schr trying to summon a demon.


    It was because the "Defiant me Butterfly" inside Yulia had gone out of control!


    The mes inside her body leaked uncontrobly, leading to the two warehousebustion incidents... and the me Spirit collected in the warehouse was not synthetic by Alchemists, but the residue left behind by the activities of the "Defiant me Butterfly"!


    "...All right, fused back together."


    Edward, a bit weary, let out a sigh of relief, "The rest is up to you, Aiwass. I''ll take a short break and exinter... You go ahead and treat your sister."


    No sooner had he spoken than the invisible chains around Yulia dissolved. The scorching girl fell into Aiwass''s arms, unexpectedly feeling the weight of the unconscious girl.


    The cracks that covered Yulia''s skin no longer glowed red nor spat terrifying mes and heat, but they hadn''t fully healed yet. It looked as though her body was covered with fresh cuts all over, slowly oozing blood.


    And Edward''s lips had dried out from the heat¡ªhe sat down and immediately poured himself a full ss of water. After gulping it down, he immediately poured a second one.


    After drinking the second ss, he closed his eyes andy back on the couch. His whole body sprawled out, visibly weakened.


    Aiwass was all too familiar with this. It was clearly a sign of near-exhausted mana.


    He recognized that the spell used to seal Yulia was not the Law Magic that Legal Mages studied¡ªbecause there was no mark of Avalon on it.


    This kind of transparent shackles resembled more the Soul Shackles of Parthian Ancient Country.


    They were used to capture ves or carry out sacrifices, capable of directly binding the soul, thus temporarily sealing the practices to the Mana Pool. Edward had forcibly stuffed the soon-to-hatch Defiant me Butterfly back in by releasing this spell with all his might.


    Was this a spell he mastered at Milton University... or was it taught to him by his foster father?


    Puzzlement rose in Aiwass''s mind, but he had no time to ask questions.


    Yulia had only been spared the fatal fate of the Phantom Demon bursting forth from her abdomen, but the high fever and heat on her body still needed to be dealt with.


    "Get me a clean towel, and wet it with water."


    Aiwass, holding the wheelchair, slid over to beside the bed and said to Oswald in a rush, "Warm water would be best."


    "Okay,ing right up."


    Oswald nodded and went to do it, while Aiwass frowned deeply.


    He removed Yulia''s burnt and tattered nightgown and stuffed her lower body into the nket first. He held Yulia''s upper body in his arms, allowing her head to rest on hisp, keeping her lying on the bed face-up in a supine position.


    He extended his left hand, pressed it steadily against Yulia''s heart from above, and closed his eyes to envision his hand radiating with Light.


    A brilliant glow emanated from Aiwass''s palm, swiftly burning away and warding off the pain inside Yulia''s body.


    Yulia visibly became much calmer, her scorched red cheeks quickly fading in color, and the murmuring whispers from her mouth also settled down. But Aiwass''s frown grew even deeper¡ª


    Feeling that his palm was drenched with sweat, his expression grew serious.


    As his healing continued, Aiwass could distinctly feel an agitated and wild heat flowing non-stop into his body through his palm. It was like eating a very spicy dried chili, then getting choked by coughing, causing the entire esophagus to be burning hot. You could feel the presence of a tubr organ be clear in your senses.


    At this moment, this "spicy hot" sensation appeared on Aiwass''s left palm, and it moved quickly towards his heart, forcibly carving out a scorching hot channel right through the middle of his left arm.


    Aiwass didn''t know what was happening, but he instinctively sensed danger.


    Before the heat reached his heart, he released his hand.


    By now, Yulia''s breathing had be smooth. The searing heat on her skin hadrgely dissipated, and the bleeding wounds had started to heal again.


    But the heat did not subside immediately and instead lingered in Aiwass''s left arm.


    It brought an unmistakable throbbing pain, simr to the swelling one feels with an inmed gum. His left arm even appeared a bit redder than his right one, with both arms having different temperatures.


    He knit his brows and didn''t immediately attend to his left arm, but first tucked Yulia back under the nkets to preserve her body heat, allowing her to rest a bit.

 Chapter 93: Chapter 60 Reliable Siblings_2

    ```


    Although doing so might dirty the nket with her sweat... after all, it was the me Spirit, and after drying, it could actually provide a decent temperature.


    "Toweling."


    Just at that moment¡ªless than half a minute had passed¡ªa clean towel soaked in warm water was brought over by Oswald.


    He also passed over a basin of water, setting it down on the rack beside them.


    Aiwass nodded as he took it and carefully wiped Yulia''s body, which was covered in sweat.


    With just a few wipes, the originally pure white towel had turned red, but it did not look like the dark red of blood, rather like it had been wiped over strawberry jam that had been dropped on a table.


    He handed the towel back to Oswald, indicating that he should go wash it clean.


    After repeating the process three times, he had basically wiped off all the me Spirit essence exuding from her body. He also deliberately kept some and put it in his pocket.


    And finally, Yulia''s body temperature returned to normal, and with a tilt of her head, sheid down on the pillow and fell into a deep sleep.


    Without waiting for Aiwass''s instructions, Oswald had already brought over a soft, warm nket. He wrapped it around the old one, tucking the already-sleeping Yulia into the new nket, and switched out the nket and bedsheet contaminated by the me Spirit.


    "This nket is obviously no longer usable¡ªthere are me Spirit residues all over."


    Aiwass sighed in relief, leaning slightly on the wheelchair, as he quietly exined, "Just like this basin. Even dead, it''s very dangerous¡ªonce dried, just a bit of me Spirit residue and a spark, or a slightly higher temperature, and they would ignite on their own. Simrly, pouring them into the drain is unsafe."


    "I understand, Mr. Aiwass," Oswald nodded, clearly proficient in handling the current situation, "I''ll find a ce to burn them first."


    As Aiwass watched the old housekeeper leave, he nced at the deeply sleeping Yulia and then turned to his brother Edward.


    In a grave voice, he asked, "What exactly is going on?"


    "You should know that Yulia is a ''Phantom Demon Egg,'' right?"


    Pressing hard against his forehead, Edward let out a deep breath and responded in a tired voice, "Even if you didn''t know before, aftering into contact with so many ult books, you must have guessed.


    "Yulia is already fifteen years old. Generally speaking, it''s hard for Phantom Demon Eggs to live past twelve...but the Hypnos Soup that father bought can keep the Phantom Demon inside her in a constant sleep, and the Blood Fiend Magic Potion can gradually extract fluids contaminated by Phantom Demon Power.


    "But as she grows older, the suppressed power within her grows stronger. Nowadays, even a double dose of Hypnos Soup can''t easily suppress the Phantom Demon anymore, and increasing the dose could cause irreparable damage to her nerves. A slight emotional fluctuation might trigger a power leak."


    At this point, Edward pressed his hand firmly against his temple, opened his eyes to look at Aiwass and said, "You know, this matter is somewhat rted to you."


    "...Me?" Aiwass''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Yes. Because you were attacked and fell into aast week, she was very worried about you. She didn''t sleep well that night and came to see you several times. The next morning, she started to run a high fever."


    Edward said gravely, "Yulia foresaw that she was about to lose control. But since father hadn''t left yet, she immediately told him about it.


    ```


    "Father sent Mr. Oswald to take Yulia to a deserted seafood warehouse nearby, letting her burn off her excess strength¡ª¡ªthat warehouse is a subsidiary of our family''spany, so there''s no need to worry about the owner requesting an investigation by the Supervisory Bureau or hiring a private Detective due to property losses."


    "As a result, perhaps because he had ventedst time, Father forgot to reinforce her seal... Today, it acted up again, possibly because you attended Princess Isabel''s evening party, or maybe because you are going to school tomorrow, or there could be some other reason. Anyway, Yulia lost control again. It must have started when Mr. Oswald was seeing you out."


    "At that time, you and Mr. Oswald went to attend the princess''s banquet, I was invited by Sherlock to investigate a gang in Lohar District, and Father had also briefly left Avalon. The other servants hadn''t experienced the Transcendent, didn''t know who to seek help from, feared causing us trouble, so she decided to handle it herself."


    "I guess she must have thought of going to that same warehouse. After all, it''s not far from home, and it would take about fifteen minutes to walk there... but she wouldn''t know that the ce is currently under martialw."


    "Unable to enter her destination and not knowing which way to go on the outside, she started looking for another deserted warehouse... Eventually, she was fortunate enough, before losing consciousness, to run into an abandoned stone warehouse."


    "Yulia can''t even recognize the way, yet she still dares to go out on her own..."


    Hearing Edward''s words, Aiwass shook his head with some relief: "Luckily, she didn''t run too far, still within the White Queen District. It would have been dangerous if she had gone to the Lohar District."


    "No, I actually think she has a pretty good sense of direction. Last time, she only went there once, carried by Mr. Oswald, even while she was feverish and delirious. This time, she actually managed to find that warehouse on her own with only her residual memory."


    "I think her actions were too decisive. If not for that, the mansion might have already been burned down by now. Surely, a number of servants would have died, and her identity as a Phantom Demon Egg might have been exposed¡ª¡ªording to currentws, Phantom Demon Eggs are usually euthanized."


    "From this perspective, perhaps Yulia possesses the adaptability of the Path of Bnce or the Path of Wisdom. Rather than scolding, I think she deserves more praise."


    Edward sighed: "But it''s no use talking about that now since it''s already over. To be optimistic, it might also be a good thing. Yulia has used Phantom Demon Power twice in session and has almost exhausted the Phantom Demon''s strength. I''ve just used a secret method to reinforce the seal¡ª¡ªas long as she takes the Magic Potion on schedule, even if her emotions fluctuate, she won''t lose control so easily."


    Everything was over. Explore more adventures at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    Aiwass''s elder brother, lying wearily on the sofa, said so.


    Even though his clothes appeared a bit disheveled, half covered in ash and partially torn, Edward''s voice was still calm and steady, unruffled: "Don''t worry, Aiwass. Today is really toote, and it''s been dyed for so long... that''s why you needed to use ''Illumination Art.'' If it were daytime, I could have called Bishop Mathers over."


    "Although this time the fire wasn''t as fierce as thest, it''s also for this reason that I found out about the fire toote. I wasn''t at home that day¡ª¡ªfortunately, this morning, I happened to hear Mr. Oswald mention it. So when I saw the fire, the first thing I thought of was Yulia, and I was able to rush over in time."


    "But this time, her burningsted too long, causing her spiritual shell to start breaking and rotting. If we can suppress her in time next time, things like this won''t happen, and the seal will be much simpler."


    This man with a square face, serious expression, always frowning, spoke with a calm and clear voice of a reliable adult: "I''m to me this time, for forgetting to remind Father to check the seal, and Father left in too much of a hurry... It won''t happen again in the future."


    "As for the residual me Spirit, you don''t have to worry about that either. Due to historical and political reasons, there are not many Alchemists that the Avalon royal family can employ. The schr responsible for examining the dangerous alchemical products brought back by the ss Ind Supervisory Bureau is only one person."


    "Who is it?" Aiwass inquired.


    "Doctor William Wayne Wesker. He is currently teaching Alchemy at the fifth department of Royal Law University¡ªDepartment of ult Studies, as well as teaching anatomy in other departments. You might encounter him at school. He''s Father''s good friend, and Father has already made arrangements... I will apany you to school tomorrow, and while we''re there, pay him a visit."


    Edward narrowed his eyes, his calm voice emitting a dangerous tone: "I trust that after his detection, he will only provide another result."


    Then, he looked at Aiwass andforted him: "Although Father is not here, I wille home every day to check. If there''s nothing going on at the Supervisory Court, I won''t leave the house."


    "You go to school with peace of mind, study hard. Leave everything at home to your elder brother."

 Chapter 94: Chapter 61 I beseech the Candle Master, the deity of the holy number 3

    After Edward left to sleep, Aiwass was still somewhat uneasy.


    He gave Yulia onest treatment for both her body and mind, and once again drew that peculiar magical power.


    This time it was his right arm that became half-congested with it... But as Yulia''s conditionpletely stabilized, Aiwass felt no more energy draining when he performed the Illumination Art.


    Moreover, as Yulia fell deeply into sleep, the restless energy umted in Aiwass''s arms began to dissipate gradually. The swelling pain was quickly subsiding.


    ¡ª It was Phantom Demon Power, Aiwass confirmed.


    Once the Defiant me Butterfly fell asleep, its power dissipated quickly like rootless duckweed.


    Just as Aiwass, before acquiring level three Shadow Affinity, couldn''t use the Shadow Demon''s power... Of course, he did not possess the trait of Fire Affinity either, so the power of the Defiant me Butterfly was also fatal to him. It was probably because the process of healing Yulia incidentally aligned with the "Shepherd''s Nurturing Skill," which caused energy to flow back¡ªlike blood flowing back when a needle is inserted into a vein.


    ¡­ At this rate, it would probably take more than an hour for the swelling to fully subside.


    He couldn''t sleep for the time being.


    Aiwass frowned, covered Yulia with a quilt, and then gently pushed the wheelchair back into his bedroom.


    Sitting at the desk, he lit a gasmp.


    Gazing at the light, Aiwass fell into thought. He began to sort through his memories.


    He remembered that in the original timeline, Yulia had not lost control prematurely, and instead, her condition had been quite good. Until she triggered a rampage on her own, she was merely "a slightly frail, cute little sister."


    It certainly wasn''t as severe as it was today¡ªa loss of control so serious that if Edward had discovered it a momentter, the Defiant me Butterfly would have emerged prematurely.


    There were indeed "sporadicbustion incidents" urring, continuing until the fourth one. And after Yulia''s death, thebustion incidents did indeed stop.


    But at that time, all these clues eventually pointed toward the Noble Red Society.


    ¡­ Now it seemed that the investigation direction might have been deliberately misled by Professor Moriarty.


    In that timeline, Aiwass''s foster father had not left Avalon at this time... With him overseeing it, it would be normal for this matter to be suppressed.


    "Could it be the butterfly effect caused by James leaving Avalon?"


    Aiwass muttered softly, "''The Forgotten Seal''... Can those words be trusted?"


    He believed that Edward had not deceived him.


    But whether James had deceived Edward was another matter.


    He had no evidence, just a simple thought... As the final boss of version 6.0, Old James wouldn''t likely forget such an important matter.


    Aiwass also faintly sensed that his older brother seemed to have some doubts about it in his heart. He probably just told a deliberate lie to set Aiwass''s mind at ease.


    But to say that Old James did it intentionally... seemed unlikely as well.


    Edward being called away today was entirely an ident. His foster father had left early in the morning, and it was impossible for him to know that Sherlock would take Edward to the Lohar District, preventing them from returning home until the evening; he also couldn''t precisely confirm that Yulia would lose control tonight.


    Edward was right. In a normal scenario, if he got home on time, even if Yulia lost control, it wouldn''t have reached this life-threatening extent. He could have sealed her immediately.


    Therefore, this must be a mere coincidence.


    And Aiwass could see no benefit for doing this¡ªif the situation got out of control, it would only bring trouble to the Moriarty Family. It was clearly not conducive to his concealment.


    When the foster father was not involved, Edward was a silent and reliable person. And Aiwass had a bit of understanding of the spell "Soul Shackles."


    The time Edward estimated should be correct. This seal indeed couldst for at least a month.


    But this event rang an rm for Aiwass.


    Following the n for everything was unreliable... because emergencies can always arise, leading to chain reactions.


    Therefore, Aiwass decided to start making the nk Card in advance.


    Fortunately, he had chosen the Vessel of ze and Brilliance trait during the advanced ritual. Now his fire attribute mana had reached 44 points. Two more points, and he''d have the minimum required to make a fire attribute nk Card¡ªstore up four points in advance, and use all the mana the next day after it had recovered.


    ording to Aiwass''s calction, he only needed to reach level 13 to have 46 fire attribute mana points.


    This shouldn''t be difficult.


    Even without using experience points, he only needed to increase the level of three different Mystical Skills by one level each.


    Had it not been for the need to give Defiant me Butterfly time to regain strength slowly, Aiwass would have wished to level up that very night using experience points¡ªif the Defiant me Butterfly did not awaken, Aiwass could notpletely seal its consciousness into the nk Card. It would be troublesome if there were any remnants left inside Yulia.


    Action followed thought.


    Aiwass decided to make an embryo that night.


    He picked a suitable Tarot Card for sealing the Defiant me Butterfly, then infused it with four mana points and stored it away. This was to save time, in case he found himself pressed for timeter and had to wait until the next day to finish the creation.


    However, he wasn''t certain which card should be used to seal the Defiant me Butterfly.


    He knew that a "Shadow Demon," a type of demon, could only be made using The Moon Tarot Card because the Shadow Demon was a quitemonly used summoning creature in thetter stages. But he wasn''t familiar with the Defiant me Butterfly. After all, in the original history of the game, the Defiant me Butterfly was not sealed into a Tarot Card by Aiwass but entered Aiwass''s ne instead.


    Or to say, the game did not have "Defiant me Butterfly" as a selectable summon. It was supposed to be Aiwass''s sister, who was to be resurrected. How could it be your pet¡ªeven though it didn''t manage to be resurrected even after Aiwass''s death?


    So before that, he had to perform a simple test to divine the Defiant me Butterfly''spatibility.


    The nk Card material consisted of two different Tarot Cards. When glued together, they became a "nk" card.


    The base card represented the Phantom Demon''s essential attribute, while the representation card stood for one of the Nine Pir Gods. It must be a card that could properly restrain and suppress the base card.


    By the power of the Nine Pir Gods, the Phantom Demon was suppressed and sealed as the "Great Beast."


    This was tantamount to exploiting the Nine Pir Gods to suppress the Phantom Demon on one''s behalf, allowing oneself tomand the entity at will without fear of rebellion¡ªthe act of "using true gods" was the unforgivable sin of the Great Sin Schr.


    But it had to be said, it was quite useful.


    In theory, this kind of test should be performed by the person involved or decoded forcibly using the exclusive mystical skills of the Great Sin Schr. However, after treating Yulia, Aiwass had a portion of the Defiant me Butterfly''s power revert back into his body. At this moment, he could also be considered "Yulia," thus he had another method to take a shortcut.


    That was divination.


    Although Aiwass was not a man of the Path of Adaptation andcked the power of foresight, it wasn''t always necessary to have such ability.


    He was a Priest, close to the divine.


    ¡ªHe could simply ask the Candle Master directly.


    A prayer ceremony was also a kind of ritual. The bonuses to ritual skills by the Demon Schr could increase the sess rate.


    His old man''s temper was quite good, and he probably wouldn''t get angry if Aiwass knocked on the small window to ask once in a while...


    Aiwass opened a brand-new set of Tarot Cards, and after a simple shuffle,id them face-down in a line on the table.


    He lit a new candle and, with fingers interlocked, offered a few respectful prayers to the Stag God of the Candle as preparation.


    Then, he drew a new Ritual Dagger and symbolically swept it over the candle me on both sides to indicate that he had purified himself.


    Following that, Aiwass cut across his own left thumb.


    Intensely hot blood immediately surged out as if a sunny-side-up egg had been pricked.


    Aiwass smeared his blood horizontally across theid out Tarot Cards. From the first card to thest, all were dabbed with a bit of his blood.


    He did not immediately heal himself but began to shuffle the cards seriously, repeatedly, while keeping the bleeding going.


    "I solemnly call upon you, noble fire-stealer!"


    "Holy God of the number three, The God of Thorns Bound, The God Who Burns Body and Pursues Darkness¡ªthe Stag God of the Candle!"


    His pupils shone with a golden-red radiance as he prayed earnestly, "I implore you to descend within the candle me!


    "I am a follower of the Path of Dedication, a Priest of the Nine Pir Gods! I am Aiwass Moriarty!


    "Please protect my spirit as you protect the candle and me in the corner of the wall; please ignite my light as you watch over all the candles of this world.


    "I now offer my own blood in exchange for true knowledge. I swear this blood is shed for the benefit of others. Please, Candle Master and your Angel Envoys, answer me..."


    Having spoken, he paused for a few seconds.


    For Aiwass suddenly felt a bit dizzy. The sensation of being watched gave him shivers down his spine and even caused his heart to skip a beat.


    And without any injury to them, his palms silently cracked open.


    A vast amount of fresh blood seeped out,pletely staining the Tarot Cards red.


    But Aiwass wasn''t the least bit panicked.


    Such a phenomenon clearly indicated the descent of an Angel Envoy to the Material Realm.


    Because his spiritual vision was inadequate, he couldn''t see the existence of the other. But this phenomenon told Aiwass that he had arrived.


    The other was watching him from within the candlelight.


    Not to waste the Envoy''s time, Aiwass immediately began to inquire, "Please reveal to me the true nature of the Phantom Demon''s power in my blood."


    "Please reveal to me the true nature of the Phantom Demon''s power in my blood."


    "Please reveal to me the true nature of the Phantom Demon''s power in my blood."


    Because the Candle Master was the Holy God of the number three, Aiwass deliberately repeated the question three times.


    At this moment, he had just finished a round of shuffling the cards.


    Aiwass solemnly drew a Tarot Card from the top of the deck.


    The Candle Master would provide him with three answers, hence three cards.


    These three cards could all serve as bases for a nk Card, but the powers they brought would vary slightly.


    ¡ªThe first card soaked in blood was The Lovers, reversed.


    Having seen it, Aiwass ced the card above the candle me, signifying he wouldn''t pass on the secrets revealed by the Angel Envoy to others.


    The bloody Tarot Card easily turned to ashes.


    Then Aiwass drew the second card.


    ¡ªThe Hanged Man, upright.


    He didn''t immediately interpret it¡ªthat would be disrespectful to the Angel Envoy.


    Clearing his mind, Aiwass quickly drew the third card.


    ¡ªThe Sun, reversed.

 Chapter 95: Chapter 62: Give It a Trial Period

    ¡ª¡ªThe Lovers, The Hanged Man, The Sun.


    The underlying cards are not about upright or reversed, but about hinting at the nature of Strength.


    Each of the three answers has already been provided in full by that intangible Angel Envoy.


    Perhaps the Defiant me Butterfly could have other possibilities. But this sequence and order of the cards is the result of the reading for "Yulia."


    After Aiwass received his answer, the prayer ritual was about to end.


    The candlelight in front of him suddenly began to flicker restlessly, the me growing thin and pale, as if urging on something.


    Aiwass knew this was prompting him to quickly destroy the items used in the ritual.


    This is the normal procedure for a prayer ritual. Otherwise, it might anger the arriving Angel Envoy.


    For these blood-stained Tarot Cards have already been imbued with the power and presence of the Angel Envoy. It''s like signing a document or sealing it, which can be seen as a mark of the other party''s identity.


    If they were to fall into someone else''s hands, they could be used as ritual materials to call upon other Angel Envoys or even the Nine Pir Gods¡ªthetter would consider this person as someone introduced by the envoy, making it easier for them to respond to the ritual. It is only permissible to leave behind some sanctified materials if the Angel Envoy agrees.


    Without permission, attempting to keep materials imbued with someone else''s essence during a ritual might invite an unnecessary attack.


    Thus, with both hands, Aiwass respectfully passed the blood-soaked Tarot Cards over the candlelight, indicating that he had trulye to ask questions.


    They caught fire upon contact, instantly turning to ash. Just like a magician''s ephemeral me flicked from his hands or a sh in the pan, igniting and then extinguishing in an instant.


    And in the moment those Tarot Cards burnt away, the holes in Aiwass''s palms and the wound on his thumb were also silently healed. The Phantom Mana clogging his arms was likewise cleared with a clean sweep.


    The elongated candle me licked the back of Aiwass''s hands but didn''t burn him. Instead, it gave him a sense of warmth.


    Aiwass carefully cleansed all the blood from his hands in the fire and then gently tapped his chest, mouth, and forehead with his left hand in session.


    "Thank you for your revtion, Angel Envoy of the Candle Master,"


    The youth with tinum-blond hair spoke solemnly to the candlelight in the pitch-ck room, "I shall be like the eternal candle me, forever alight."


    As if encouraged, the elongated candle me flickered rapidly three times.


    Immediately after, the me returned to its original color and shape.


    The sensation of being watched by something on his body also dissipated.


    Aiwass carefully snuffed out the candle to ensure that the ritual waspletely over, preventing any unexpected retaliatory strike from the Angel Envoy.


    It was only when the candlelight waspletely extinguished that Aiwass let out a sigh of relief.


    His body rxed, leaning back in his wheelchair.


    Although this was a routine ability of a priest, and other priests could also pray to the Nine Pir Gods¡ªusually, the most responsive were the Angel Envoys of the Path of Devotion, which require no sacrifice or price since the act of helping a devotee for free can also be considered a form of "Dedication."


    That said, this was still Aiwass''s first time personally using a prayer ritual; he was still a bit nervous.


    "...I forgot to ask for His name."


    Suddenly, Aiwass pped his forehead with some annoyance.


    Although he didn''t know which specific Angel Envoy responded to him, the other party was quite friendly, even casually healing him before departing, saving Aiwass the trouble of using the Fire Rite Skill again.


    If he knew the Angel Envoy''s name, Aiwass could target His next prayer specifically.


    It might be somewhat unkind to fleece a sheep repeatedly... but as long as the other party also agrees, then it''s consensual.


    After a brief pause, Aiwass took out his real set of Tarot Cards, a far more expensive and borate deck, from the table.


    In this deck, one "The Moon" card had already been used during the creation of the "de of Shadows."


    Aiwass felt that using the same deck to create Phantom Cards might slightly improve the sess rate.


    Guided by the revtions given by the Angel Envoy, Aiwass picked out the three Tarot Cards suited for the Defiant me Butterfly from the deck. He arranged them on the table in the inverted triangle spread, following the upright and reversed positions as they were drawn.


    Although he was inquiring about the essence of Strength, he had also performed a Tarot reading for Yulia.


    And it was a Tarot reading involving high-dimensional power.


    The Angel Envoys of the Dream Realm could see past and future¡ªtime is not irreversible for them. However, due to the bindings of the Dream Realm, the Angel Envoys cannot tell mortals the exact future, just as even if they summon an Eternal Self, with the sacred number "1," their answer could not be singr.


    But even vague hints are valuable.


    "...Luckily, I read a bunch of misceneous books when I was fanatically obsessed with ult knowledge."


    Aiwass let out a sigh of relief.


    Based on the Candle Master''s power, the drawn three cards formed the "Holy Trinity" spread.


    Within the Holy Trinity spread, the three Tarot Cards respectively represented the past, present, and future. It''s not a "trend," but a "causal cycle"¡ªthe "past''s" cause leads to the "present''s" effect, the "present''s" cause brings about the "future''s" effect... and the "future" hints at the reason why the "past" has unfolded as it did.


    Although he wasn''t very skilled at interpreting Tarot Cards, Aiwass could still interpret such a simple spread.


    How could he possibly misread such a straightforward divination?

 Chapter 96: Chapter 62: Give It a Trial Period_2

    The first card, symbolizing the past, is the reversed "The Lovers."


    The reversed position of The Lovers card in the past may have indicated "arguments," "immature emotions," "fading friendships," "despite having expectations for one''s own growth, forever wanting to avoid danger," and so on. The key point of interpretation is that the emotional challenges were not passed and wrong decisions were made at the time of "choice," causing rtionships to fade.


    Aiwass stroked his chin, deep in thought.


    My rtionship with Yulia has always been quite good, right?


    Find more chapters on m_v l|e-NovelBin


    So it probably isn''t an issue of romance or friendship¡­


    He shook his head and skipped this card to look at the second one.


    Representing the present, The Hanged Man in upright position.


    This is a very positive card. It signifies "self-sacrifice," "making dedications for love," "rebirth from fire." And the upright position suggests that this sacrifice is worthwhile.


    "...wait a minute?"


    Aiwass was momentarily stunned.


    Speaking of which, in the game''s storyline, Yulia sacrificed herself to protect Aiwass and turned into a Phantom Demon! At that time, indeed her form of life "ascended," from mortal to the immortal Phantom Demon. And she did experience this "rebirth" in mes.


    If the "present" refers to this, then the "future" that connects to this issue¡­


    "The reversed Sun..."


    Aiwass murmured.


    The Sun symbolizes energy and vitality. The reversed Sun predicts the decline of vigor, and fear of "scarcity." For example, physical weakness, ack of spirit, or emotional fluctuations leading to divorce.


    This is probably referring to the original timeline where the Defiant me Butterfly''s fire was sealed by Aiwass into his ne. Although she did not die, she fell into a state of trouble and weakness.


    If both the present and the future are referring to matters concerning the Phantom Demon, the Defiant me Butterfly, then what does the past refer to?


    "...Could it be the cause of the Phantom Demons'' uprising?"


    Thinking this, Aiwass''s expression became subtlyplex.


    Could it be that Yulia really cared about my interaction with others?


    ...That would be reasonable.


    The most important person to Yulia has always been Aiwass himself ¡ª unlike Edward, who grew up with and was consequently more concerned with the opinions of his foster father, she has always been closer to Aiwass alone. If Aiwass''s views shed with James''s, Aiwass was confident she would side with him.


    But even so, I can''t just stay home and be with you all the time, baby.


    ¡ª Aiwass felt as though he had understood something, but knowing didn''t seem very useful. True to being an interpretation of "the past," one really can''t change "the past."


    But at this point, Aiwass already knew which card he should choose as his foundation.


    First, discount The Lovers card. The key imagery of this card is "romance" and the various decisions brought about by love. This is not important to the Defiant me Butterfly... From the form of the "butterfly emerging from its cocoon," it''s obvious that its essence is clearly unrted to love. It should be simply hinting at why it lost control, or rather, what emotions or reasons caused it to lose control.


    And The Hanged Man symbolizes self-sacrifice, it represents the card of the Candle Master. Therefore, it also conveys imagery of light and fire.


    Nurturing the Defiant me Butterfly with her own body, transforming into a chrysalis to incubate it. Conceptually, this is closer to "Yulia" rather than the Defiant me Butterfly within her. If Aiwass intended to use some ritual to influence her, then this answer was correct¡ªit could urately channel power to Yulia herself, with the primary position always being hers, not the Phantom Demon inside her.


    However, what Aiwass really intended to do was to seal the Phantom Demon inside her.


    The Sun signifies knowledge, vitality, and energy¡ª in The Sun card, a naked child sits atop a white horse, bathed in the splendid golden sunlight, holding aloft a g that symbolizes victory, celebrating the vigor the sun brings to thisnd. And in the rtionship between Yulia and the Phantom Demon, the source of life "The Sun" is actually Yulia... That is to say, the child who is the subject of this card, is the "Defiant me Butterfly" that is about to be incubated!


    Without a doubt, this is the most suitable base card!


    It can fill the Defiant me Butterfly with enough energy, allowing it to manifest in the form of light and heat. This concept is associated with the Path of Devotion, governed by the Candle Master.


    Therefore, Aiwass could use The Hanged Man, representing the Candle Master, as the significator card to seal and suppress it!


    Because the significator card is The Hanged Man, the Great Beast thus created has an affinity with the Path of Devotion¡ªwhen Aiwass used this card to summon the Defiant me Butterfly, if others came to detect it, they could only detect the power belonging to the Path of Devotion!


    Its energy attribute is me, and the power of its pathes from Dedication¡ªif it looks like a Priest skill, feels like a Priest skill, and every test confirms it''s a Priest skill.


    Then without a doubt, it is a Priest skill.


    And both sides of the nk card being made were also using the "rmended cards" pointed out by the Angel Envoy. Its strength goes without saying.


    "It''s a good thing I kept this..."


    Aiwass thought, taking out the True me Essence that he had previously taken away, which had been extracted from Yulia.


    At the time, he had just done so with the thought of "keeping a memento" in mind, almost unconsciously. Now, it actually came in handy.


    Themon materials that can carry fire attribute mana, in addition to me Spirit, include rubies, charcoal, cinnabar, sulfur, and saltpeter.


    Aiwass cut his left thumb again, infusing a point of fire attribute mana after every three drops of fingertip blood, thus imbuing four points of mana.


    He carefully mixed the blood with the True me Essence using a clear quartz stick. It now began to emit steaming white heat, the water in the blood rapidly drying out.


    Aiwass leaned over the table, brushing it meticulously onto the Tarot Cards with a toothbrush before it dried out, ensuring an even spread.


    After that, he ground and mixed cinnabar and rubies in a ratio of six to one, evenly sprinkling them on the Tarot Cards to nourish them.


    Unlike with The Moon card''s creation, the environment that houses this card must have enough warmth, yet must not be exposed to open mes.


    Aiwass stroked his chin,ing up with an idea.


    He put the card into a red pouch, filled it with arge amount of charcoal powder and ttened it. He turned it into a pendant.


    Aiwass hung it around his neck, then prepared to go to bed.


    When he got up the next day, he would deliver it to Yulia... for her to wear close to her body.


    It would be just right to use the warmth of her heart to warm the card¡ªif the Phantom Demon awoke, the outflow of fire attribute mana would also be absorbed by the ample mystical materials filled within.


    Moreover, it would allow the Phantom Demon to get used to being sealed ahead of time.


    ¡ª Essentially arranging an internship for the Little Butterfly.


    Even if it was dissatisfied, Aiwass wouldn''t let it escape anyway.

 Chapter 97: Good morning, senior sister

    ```


    With Aiwass''s careful treatment, Yulia''splexion was noticeably better when she awoke this timepared to after herst loss of control.


    Even without Aiwass''s specific effort to wake her, Yulia woke up on her own.


    The next morning after getting up, Aiwass gave Yulia the yet-to-bepleted "The Sun" card as an "amulet."


    Even ignoring its esoteric meaning, as an ornament, the card had its value. It was infused with a full four points of Aiwass''s fire attribute mana, as well as the high-quality me Spirit provided by Yulia herself. Even separated by charcoal and cotton, just touching the card allowed one to feel a noticeable warmth.


    Its heat was not scalding. It was roughly the same as a steam eye mask or a heat pack... perfect for wearing against the body in winter.


    Yulia obviously loved the gift, reacting quite intensely. She even kissed Aiwass, and over her thick cotton clothing, gave Aiwass a hug as soft and warm as toasted marshmallow.


    Watching Yulia happily tuck it close to her body, Aiwass unconsciously tapped his right middle finger on the armrest of his wheelchair, lost in thought.


    Speaking of which, Yulia had not yet had her menarche. Though it might have been due to the slow baking by the Defiant me Butterfly, Aiwass was about to extract it.


    Yulia turned fifteenst month, and Aiwass, counting the days, felt it should be soon. Then, he could make a waist protector to warm her up¡ªusing the form he had just tested, his blood as the vessel for the mana, buying some imitation me Spirit from outside, and using soft cotton and gauze, he could make a heat pack that would fade in about seven days...


    Without knowing alchemy, Aiwass felt he still had some skill in manually making heat packs. Moreover, this behavior itself clearly aligned with the Path of Devotion... His blood would not be spilled in vain, and he could incidentally gain some experience points towards leveling up.


    Yesterday, Edward had said he would apany Aiwass to school, but Edward had ridden the Gryphon to the university ahead of them.


    He was probably going to see that doctor for theb test, Aiwass thought.


    Later, after Lily had eaten breakfast as well, she pushed Aiwass''s wheelchair out the door. This time, Edward''s personal manservant followed along.


    Since he generally lived outside with Edward, Aiwass didn''t even know his name. But it was clearly not the right moment to ask.


    The man was a robust, red-haired individual, resembling a brown bear, helping to carry the luggage for the two of them on the side.


    In this era, there were no wheeled suitcases with handles; everyone used hard-sided carry-on cases. Wrapped in hard leather and encased with a solid wood frame, reinforced with brass at the corners... they were like the medicine boxes carried by visiting doctors.


    Such cases were very heavy, but the manservant could carry one in each hand, following behind them briskly on foot.


    Although he didn''t say it out loud in front of Aiwass, he clearly resented the slow pace at which Lily pushed the wheelchair¡ªasionally bursting ahead a bit, then visibly slowing down a few steps.


    This man was impatient.


    Aiwass judged internally.


    Moreover, if expectations were correct, he must have a good rtionship with the elder brother. That''s why he would show such impolite behavior of "urging"... after all, the mainstream Path in Avalon is Authority, which is very particr about "rules." Although Aiwass himself didn''t care about this, he didn''t really know whether he cared or not.


    From this, one could infer that Edward must be very kind to people around him, devoid of any air of superiority.


    How unusual.


    Edward, so silent and adept at keeping secrets, could be so gentle in private...


    By the time Aiwass''s group arrived at the University Town in the Red Queen District, Edward, who seemed to have finished his personal business, was standing there, giving his Gryphon water.


    Experience new stories on m v|l e''-NovelBin


    As Aiwass approached, Edward turned around as if noticing and slightly nodded at the manservant.


    Though Edward didn''t say a word, the red-haired man immediately understood what he meant: "Where to?"


    "Roning Street, number 14," Edward answered sinctly.


    Aiwass asked, "Is that our dormitory? Wasn''t it supposed to be inside the university?"


    "The Royal Law University is veryrge," Edward shook his head, "Roning Street is the street in front of the main teaching building of the Theological Seminary. If you go directly east from the entrance of the teaching building, without turning corners. Walk about five hundred steps, pass through a park and a small bridge, and you''ll see the house."


    "I just went and checked it out; it''s beautiful. Right by the river... It''s also close to the School of Law, and you can take a boat from outside. It''s also about four hundred steps in a straight line from the second cafeteria. If, Lily, during Aiwass''s rest time, you want to sit in on sses at the School of Law, the same distance will take you there, even closer than the student dorms."


    Seeing Lily''s eyes widen, Edward promptly added: "It wasn''t me who bought it; it''s a short-term gift from the princess.


    "The houses on Roning Street aren''t for sale¡ªthey''re typically benefits provided by Her Majesty the Queen for professors."


    Absurd.


    Aiwass thought.


    The "separate dormitory" mentioned by Master Yanis was not at all the kind of student housing in one building that he had imagined¡ªrather, it was vi-style faculty housing!


    Heavens, what sort of arrangement is this for me?


    ```

 Chapter 98: Chapter 63 Good Morning, Senior Schoolmate_2

    Edward said from the side, "To my knowledge, this vi was initially meant to be a gift for Master Yanis. Although the master declined the invitation to be a guest professor at the Royal Law University, the house was still given to her. And then, the master re-gifted the house in her own name to her student, Princess Isabel."


    "ording to Her Highness''s wishes... the vi is yours until you graduate.


    Edward''s gaze toward Aiwass contained some barely suppressed surprise and confusion.


    After he and Aiwass had resealed and healed Yulia yesterday, neither had the energy to discuss Aiwass''s meeting with the princess. He waspletely unaware of what had actually taken ce.


    Aiwass thought to himself, your curiosity is only contained now because the painting from Master Yanis hasn''t arrived yet.


    When "Golden Dawn" is delivered to the house, you will probablye over specially to ask me "what exactly happened that night"...


    But just as Aiwass was putting on a polite smile, covering up his own question marks,


    Edward suddenly leaned in close and gave him an awkward hug¡ªYulia was quite petite, so hugging him felt natural; but Edward, who stood nearly one meter eighty-nine, now resembled a cautious giant bending down to look at the ground. Aiwass felt just by looking that Edward''s back must be quite ufortable.


    Big guy, what are you getting sentimental for...


    Aiwass muttered to himself but suddenly felt Edward slip something into his arms discreetly.


    His heart stirred, and he reached into his coat''s outer pocket, feeling the shape of the object.


    With only two touches, he immediately recognized what it was¡ª


    It was a handgun.


    To be precise, it was the Elf-crafted handgun "Grip of the Lady" that Aiwass had used to kill the Evil Sorcerer Veronica, which had been confiscated!


    "...Is the school really that dangerous?"


    He whispered into Edward''s ear, "Aren''t the defenses at the Royal Law University on par with government buildings? Why do I still need to bring a gun to ss?"


    Two and a half months into the school year, his first day of student orientation, and he had a gun that had killed people on him.


    Just thinking about this scenario made Aiwass feel odd.


    But he didn''t refuse it.


    Now, he only had one "Enchantment Card: de of Shadows," and the Chapel Key for heavy attacks, still somewhatcking in self-preservation and deterrent ability. Having a standard weapon on hand was always better, after all, being pointed at with a gun rather than with a key was evidently more intimidating.


    "I don''t know."


    Edward replied in a deep voice with a quality answer, "But when I came in today, my instincts told me... something is off about the atmosphere here."


    Aiwass raised an eyebrow, epting the exnation.


    As a high-ranking Transcendent, Edward''s spiritual sense and vision were far sharper than Aiwass''s. Even if it was just an unfounded "bad feeling," it was likely valuable information.


    ...It''s just that he himself seemed a bit unlucky.


    He genuinely wanted toe to ss to study in peace.


    Please, if there''s trouble, don''t let it find me...


    "If something is going to happen at the Royal Law University, it''s bound to involve one of the professors."


    Edward straightened up, thought for a few seconds, and spoke in a deep voice, "Anyway, keep it with you for now, self-defencees first. If anyone else finds the gun, say it was me who told you to carry it, and they should notify the Supervisory Court.


    "Don''t hand over the weapon to anyone who asks for it, me it all on me¡ªgot it? As long as I''m not around, you can''t give the gun to anyone."


    "Understood."


    Aiwass nodded crisply in response.


    Pleased with Aiwass''s decisiveness, Edward nodded slightly in acknowledgment.


    He stepped to the side, revealing Hayna who was running over from afar, "I found you a senior to show you around... you''ve met her twice before, so you should be quite familiar with her. From now on, just follow her, and if you have any questions, ask your senior. If anyone bullies you, you can also turn to her."


    "Sorry, Chief Inspector Your Excellency!"


    Hayna, who had run over, spoke in a voice that was both fearful and a little afraid, "It seems... I''m slightlyte by a little while... how long have you been waiting?"


    "No, you''re notte. Aiwass just arrived not long ago,"


    Edward said calmly. The moment he raised his head to look at Hayna, his face became expressionless, as if a pale metallic mask had been affixed to it, "Inspector Hayna Dane, I''m entrusting my brother to you."


    Hayna breathed a sigh of relief.


    Subconsciously, she thought she might bete again, and her heartbeat almost skipped a beat.


    "Yes!"


    But at the same time, she responded with a firm and unhesitating salute, her face showing a resolute demeanor.


    She had not known this Chief Inspector before.


    Although he looked somewhat familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before, she figured it must have been a mistake.


    How could she have the chance to know such an important figure...


    ¡ª¡ªThis man was the head of the Supervisory Court in the capital, ss Ind! Essentially the highest-ranking official she had ever seen!


    Even higher than Director Kent by a grade and a half!


    Moreover, since the Supervisory Court is also in charge of disciplinary inspection and execution for corruption oversight, he was essentially the boss of her boss''s boss''s boss...


    ...Is it that the most formidable member of the Moriarty family isn''t the professor, but Chief Inspector Edward?


    Today, Director Kent had specially given her a day off, and she had nned to spend it reading in her dormitory.


    But just a moment ago... when the Chief Inspector approached her with a stern face and showed his credentials to identify himself, Hayna almost urinated out of sheer fright¡ªand that was not an exaggeration, she really did.


    At that moment, Hayna''s legs went weak.


    At first, Hayna thought she had made some mistake in her work and was about to be dismissed and executed by the Supervisory Court!


    ¡ª¡ª I''m just a little inspector who doesn''t even have a Gryphon assigned to me, having just shed my trainee status.


    Is the Inspector from ss Ind personally taking a trip for this?


    Basically, if someone of Director Kent''s rankmitted serious crimes like smuggling, treason, or murder, only then might it be a matter for someone of this dignitary''s stature to personally issue a disciplinary notice... and even Kent might not be quite qualified enough, Hayna thought.


    Not until she was told that "because of her helpfulness, sincerity, andck of arrogance, she had a high reputation in school," and was asked to look after Aiwass and take him to ss to meet people, did Hayna finally take a long breath of relief.


    She felt her fingertips and chin go numb.


    It wasn''t until a good while after Edward had left that she could feel her heartbeat again. By then, her back, neck, and cheeks were all soaked with sweat.


    There was no time to boil water for a bath; she just changed her clothes, wiped down a bit, and ran over here.


    But Hayna''s frightened brain was a total nk; halfway there she realized she hadn''t changed her shoes or put on a coat, and hurried back to put them on properly.


    Fortunately, she really ran quickly, so she didn''t keep Aiwass and Edward waiting at the door for too long.


    Actually, Edward had allowed her ample time to wash and dress...


    If she hadn''t turned back once, she would have definitely arrived early, and that might have displeased Edward since he wouldn''t have had the chance to secretly hand the gun to Aiwass.


    From this perspective, Senior Hayna was rather lucky...


    Discover stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin


    "¡ª¡ªGood morning, senior."


    Sitting in the wheelchair, Aiwass silently adjusted the position of the handgun in his arms and, with an interest, looked at the senior whose mind seemed to short-circuit upon encountering an important person, and disyed a brilliant and friendly smile, "It''s been a while... haven''t we seen each other in two days?"

 Chapter 99: Chapter 64 Dracula and the Hyena

    Royal Law University, Department of Theology and Law, Theological Seminary''s First Lecture Building.


    Sitting in the packed lecture hall, Aiden gazed nkly at the professor who was droning on about the history of the Star Antimony Kingdom and couldn''t help but yawn mightily. He was seated in the seventh row of the left section, where already seven or eight individuals had scattered and fallen asleep on their desks below him.


    ...Honestly speaking, why did they, who would join the church after graduation as trainee priests, also have to learn history?


    With his brown curly hair and freckles, the young man rested his chin on his hand and squinted his drowsy eyes, grumbling in his heart.


    It wasn''t that he disliked history... it was mainly that Professor Bard''s teaching was so dull.


    Moreover, I don''t need to go abroad; I''ll never meet anyone from Star Antimony in my lifetime. What does it matter what Star Antimony Kingdom was called in the past...


    Not only that, but they also had to study the topsy-turvy, grammaticallyplex Star Antimonynguage¡ªwhich was irritating just to listen to. Could it really be that there are Star Antimony people who wille pray in the churches of Avalon? Even if they went, they should go to the Holy Nation.


    If there really were Star Antimony people in Avalon, surely an Inspector would be right beside them the entire time. There would be no need for him to speak Avalon''snguage... Just shouting in Star Antimony would immediately have someone rushing over to interrogate the situation. Those Inspectors, with their ck hats like helmets, had faster reactions than waiters in a restaurant.


    Aiden looked towards the podium, beginning to reminisce about thedy he had encountered at the White Ballet Shoes Clubst night.


    Never mind her graceful figure, elegant dance steps, and understanding of literature and art... the fact that she rmended and lent him Mr. Bram Stoker''s new book was also quite interesting.


    ¡ª "Drac."


    A bookposed of letters, diaries, telegrams, newspaper clippings, and other formats, documenting the secret history of the death of the Duke from Narcissus Duchy, which has now been obliterated.


    Justst night, Aiden only intended to read the beginning and the end¡ªto have something to talk about with that mysteriousdy in a white dress whose name he had yet to exchange. Yet he couldn''t help but read it from start to finish, which led to him feeling rather sleepy when he woke up today.


    ¡ª Compared to the history of the Star Antimony Kingdom that Professor Bard is currently discussing, he cared more now about whether there really are such terrifying vampires in Star Antimony.


    Because the book was written too realistically. It didn''t seem like fiction.


    People say Mr. Bram Stoker is a Dream Traversing Monk, harbouring the "hidden possibilities of history" obtained from the Dream Realm. Now, it doesn''t seem impossible.


    And if everything written in the book is true... then the reason Star Antimony Kingdom attacked Narcissus Duchy a few years ago was to purify the Duke Daffodil, who had been transformed into a vampire.


    But the ending in the book, "the head of Duke Daffodil was severed by an Anonymous Knight from Avalon with a Holy Sword," seems far too sloppy... It could be an artistic embellishment or perhaps it was one of the "hidden possibilities of history" that Mr. Stoker saw in the Dream Realm.


    In real history, if there wasn''t that Anonymous Knight capable of wielding the Holy Sword once used by Lancelot I¡ªhow then could that immortal Duke Daffodil have been killed by the people of Star Antimony?


    But such things are never taught in history ss.


    Because they may not have be history yet; they may still be secrets.


    Perhaps those Star Antimony never killed him but were assimted by him instead! They might even have corrupted more of the upper ranks, converting them into vampires in secret!


    If that''s the case, it''s possible that Duke Daffodil could be reborn from Star Antimony...


    Aiden''s eyes were focused on the professor on the podium, but his thoughts had flown somewhere far away.


    At that moment, he suddenly heard an increasingmotioning from near the entrance.


    The noise disrupted Aiden''s daydream.


    Curious, he looked over and noticed someone walking past the window outside.


    He immediately recognized the person¡ª


    Aiden''s eyes lit up, and he straightened his body in an instant.


    ¡ª It was Senior Hayna!


    Hayna Dane at Royal Law University was undoubtedly a shining new star.


    Not only was she generous and kind, excelled academically, and had outstanding beauty, but she was also always sincere and hardly ever got angry. If other students had conflicts or arguments, she would step forward to mediate; if someone was hurt or treated unfairly, she would stand up to protect them and uphold justice.


    Senior Hayna had a high reputation among both female and male students. She had an excellent figure and thick, long hair¡ªalthough usually tied in a ponytail, she asionally let it down. Unlike the "Royal Capital girls" who spoke in soft whispers and often screamed or even fainted at the slightest things, Hayna did not subscribe to this "fashion of fragility."


    She was not distant from the boys and would often mix with them to chat and drink.


    And she liked to y rugby. Most importantly, she yed it very well.


    Out of the six departments at Royal Law University, five had their own rugby teams, and the Individual Tactics Department team even had the chance topete with professional teams.


    While the rugby team was theoretically open to all genders, because of the high-intensity physical shes and contact, hardly any girls were willing to y, and female enthusiasts couldn''t form a team.


    Hayna was the only female on the Individual Tactics Department rugby team, but she was far from a drag; instead, she was a strong support¡ªshe was an excellent nker and had even been praised by the coach leading the team, saying, "Hayna is your core," and had led them to many key victories.


    No matter the sport, the boys had a very clear attitude: anyone who could lead their favorite team to victory and performed exceptionally well was an idol.


    And if this "idol" was also a beautiful girl with a generous figure, the prestige she could gain was truly terrifying.


    Hayna was like a "big sister" figure, an unquestionable star. Although she was only the chief of the 95th-grade girls, in theory, responsible for the affairs of the current seniors... when underssmen had issues, they would also seek her help first.


    Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelBin


    But Hayna also faced criticism for often mixing with the boys. There were students who were jealous of her looks and prestige and would badmouth her as a country bumpkin who didn''t understand fashion or art... but to Aiden''s view, such remarks were not at all offensive.


    The most aggressive nickname Senior Hayna had was "Hyena."


    This word was homophonic with her name, making it quite covert.


    Hayna was called a hyena because of two characteristics: one is because they are scavengers, often gathering in ces that are smelly and dirty, thus being considered unclean and filthy; the other is because female hyenas have genitalia that resemble those of males. This was a jibe at Hayna being brutish and savage in her actions like a man, thus attracting the admiration and love of many young girls.


    There were even rumors that Hayna did not like boys, but would make moves on girls¡ªthat''s why she was so affectionate and gentle with her undersswomen.


    But these rumors could not be dispelled.


    Because such an outstanding, popr girl among the boys, Hayna, had never had a boyfriend.


    Arlen, the third son of the Minister of Justice, who was a year younger than Hayna, once pursued her. But he wasn''t sessful.


    Hayna came from the countryside. A handsome son of a minister who understood literature and art was no doubt a sufficiently high-quality romantic partner. But Hayna didn''t even give him the chance to date her... and what''s more mysterious is that her rejection didn''t cause him to fly into a rage or turn love into hatred; it turned him into a loyal follower of Hayna.


    But now, Aiden realized.


    This rumor mighte to an end today...


    ¡ªPerhaps Arlen wasn''t handsome enough.


    Because following Hayna was a boy in a wheelchair being pushed by a gentle-looking maid.


    He had soft tinum hair and deep-set, three-dimensional features. Just gently watching Hayna in front gave off a profoundly affectionate and focused aura. His deep blue eyes seemed to be always filled with a smile.


    Hayna, walking straightforwardly ahead, was no longer the carefree person who never looked back. Instead, she would look back every three steps, closely watching the boy behind her as if afraid of losing him.


    When their gazes asionally met, both would smile at each other knowingly.


    No matter how you looked at it, Hayna seemed to ce great importance on him.


    "¡ªAiwass?!"


    Aiden blurted out the other''s name unconsciously.

 Chapter 100: Chapter 65: The Podium is Yours, Take the Floor

    "Who is that?"


    Aiden heard someone whispering beside him, "It''s ame guy... but pretty handsome!"


    The voices became chaotic, and the students who were asleep began to wake up gradually. Those who hadn''t been awakened by their friends were certainly woken up by themotion.


    "That''s Aiwass Moriarty!"


    Someone stated Aiwass''s name clearly, "The great detective who was in the ''ss Staircase Daily'' a few days ago!"


    More people heard the name and suddenly realized who he was, showing looks of recognition.


    After all, he was Senior Hayna''s partner, so it was normal for her to bring him along.


    However, some people disapproved of what seemed to be an old-fashioned hobby, "Ah, do you still read newspapers?"


    "...Moriarty? Is he Professor Moriarty''s child?"


    Someone astutely picked up on Aiwass''s surname.


    "Yes, ''Mr. Popr'' Moriarty!"


    Obviously, Aiden wasn''t the only person who remembered Aiwass.


    The only one concerned about Aiwass''s health was a girl who looked deeply worried, "His leg..."


    Others were gossiping, specting about Hayna''s level of concern, which was almost like she was "nurturing carefully": "Could it be Senior Hayna hasn''t epted Arlen because she already has a boyfriend?"


    ¡ªMost likely not. Aiwass didn''t seem like someone who would date Senior Hayna...


    Aiden thought to himself.


    He of course recognized the person before him. He easily recognized him at a nce.


    Without a doubt, this person was Aiwass Moriarty, his ssmate from middle school!


    Even back in middle school, Aiwass often became the center of attention.


    He was like the current Hayna, passionate, cheerful, kind, and always considering others. Not even the w of "origin" that Hayna was most criticized for was present.


    Aiwass hailed from one of the Founding Families. Though he was only an adopted child... but given that his father had no direct descendants, being an adopted child wasn''t much different from being of direct blood.


    The difference between him and Hayna was that she was popr for her cheerful personality and mixed well with both boys and girls.


    Whereas Aiwass was the opposite. He was clearly more popr among the girls.


    Not that Aiwass had any animosity with the boys, it was purely because he attracted too much attention and didn''t leave much for others. What was most annoying was that he never really dated anyone; he just spread his charm and kindness around. This meant he didn''t have a definite girlfriend... And so, the girls wouldn''t step back, always harboring some kind of fantasy.


    ¡ª"He''s so nice to me, maybe he actually likes me?"


    But if someone confessed, Aiwass would politely refuse, carefully preserving the other''s dignity, and make it clear that he was just being nice to everyone. Although there were those who saw through this... what of it?


    Compared to the immature, brash, self-centered boys his age, mature and understanding Aiwass was just morefortable to be around. Even without a romantic rtionship or close contact, he was undoubtedly a good friend of the opposite sex.


    Among the things Aiden was aware of, Aiwass''s "achievements" included finding a girl''s kidnapped sister, helping resolve a misunderstanding between a young couple, skipping ss to apany a girl who had suddenly lost her parents in a tragedy, and helping a rebellious ssmate mend rtions with his family ¡ª and most outrageous of all, a female teacher was heartbroken over a failed romance, and Aiwass wrote her a hriously clever poem, ying the harp like a Bard, consoling her that being single wasn''t so bad.


    With Aiwass setting the bar so high, his immature peers seemed even more juvenile.


    This was exactly why Aiwass wasn''t viewed favorably among the boys.


    Many said he changed girlfriends weekly¡ªfrom a thirty-something teacher to a ssmate''s sister in elementary school was supposedly in his range, but those were just jealous rumors. Only those who were close to him and familiar with his private life knew Aiwass actually didn''t have a girlfriend.


    Aiden was one of them.


    He even knew why Aiwass didn''t have a girlfriend. It was because the guy was a foolish brother who was always "Yuli this, Yuli that"¡ªand his so-called "sister", equally a Moriarty foster child, was not rted to Aiwass by blood.


    Though he had never met the legendary frail sister, and didn''t know what kind of stunning beauty she must possess... to make Aiwass so infatuated with her.


    But Aiden knew the girls, unaware of where their real enemyy, were utterly doomed to lose¡­ because Aiwass truly didn''t care about them. His eyes were for his mysterious sister, whose existence was so secretive, its reality was uncertain.


    Even when rumors were being spread, Aiwass didn''t bother to pursue.


    "It''s fine, it won''t really affect me anyway. Besides, I have indeed done some things wrong... Ultimately, it''s because I went too far in helping them, failing to maintain proper distance..."


    Back then, two girls who Aiwass had turned down lied to save face, iming Aiwass had epted them; but they bumped into each other with the same story. Neither wanted to admit to lying, so they used one another... and as the story spread, it morphed into Aiwass juggling a harem that was set aze.


    And Aiwass?


    Aiwass was ying cricket.


    After hearing about the rumors, he didn''t panic. Instead, he earnestly exined their behavior to his cricket teammates, "They''re just not ready to admit defeat and are a little vain. If we reproach them now, loud usations of lying and rumor-spreading could ruin their lives. They both love me, and I don''t hate them. I can''t do such a wrong thing.


    "Right now they''re like standing on the edge of a perilous peak, with just a fine line separating them from a fall, and all they need is to cool down toe back to normal. At this critical moment, my role isn''t to push but to pull. Once they''ve calmed down, they will naturally help dispel the rumors."


    At that time, Aiwass sat on a table, with his teammates gathered around, listening nkly.


    ¡ªAre you sure this is okay? Will they really help dispel the rumors? Won''t they turn their love to hate instead?


    But as it turned out, Aiwass was right. It was they who didn''t understand.


    The rumors of Aiwass''s romances had not negatively impacted his aura, but instead caused even more people to actively pursue him. After calming down, those two girls did admit to their lying and rumor-spreading behavior, running around trying to erase the impact for him, bing close friends in the process, with nothing they didn''t confide in each other about.


    Aiden was thoroughly convinced.


    Master, truly a master!


    Please teach me, Master! I want to find a girlfriend too!


    Yet, not long after that, Aiwass, who had been admitted to the Theological Seminary of the Royal Law University, suddenly disappeared mysteriously.


    It was said that he was in poor health and was recuperating at home, but no one would believe such an absurd excuse for absence.


    Some said he had gone to undertake religious training at the headquarters of the Eternal Theocracy, others imed he had found his biological parents and left Avalon.


    Later, rumors further fermented, with someone insisting that Aiwass had probably gone to study at a university in the Iris Kingdom¡ªhis romantic characteristics indicated that his real parents were obviously nobles of the Irisflower People, which exined why he had such a prominent personality in the otherwise unromantic Avalon; others argued that one of his parents had elf blood, therefore he should be in the Holy Nation now.


    The most outrageous im was that he had been summoned away by Princess Isabel. She, a sophomore like them and someone who had already embarked on the Transcendent path, was in need of a loyal and reliable long-term ally¡ªone without too many desires yet still meticulous and smart. Perhaps, after hearing about Aiwass''s miraculous experiences, she had chosen him.


    ¡ª¡ªNow Aiden realized that all those spections were wrong.


    So Aiwass really was injured!


    Could it have been a sports injury to his leg? Why else would he be in a wheelchair...


    The students buzzed with spection, and the noise inside the ssroom grew louder. Professor Bard also paused his lecture and turned around.


    "Good morning, Professor Bard!"


    Hayna greeted the elderly professor energetically.


    "Good morning, Miss Dane."


    The small, frail-looking old professor also had a fondness for this well-performing and polite student.


    Turning off the microphone button on the lecture podium, he turned back with a smile on his stern face and politely addressed Hayna by her surname.


    Saying this, he turned his gaze towards the person behind Hayna, touching his shiny, nearly bald head, "This is... Mr. Aiwass Moriarty, isn''t it?


    Unlike the students, Professor Bard was obviously someone who read the newspaper daily.


    Therefore, it wasn''t surprising that he recognized the young detective who had solved the Pelican Bar case, indirectly resolved the previous demon sacrifice case and the warehouse explosion case, and at least twenty-three smuggling cases.


    "Hello, Professor Bard."


    Aiwass nodded politely in greeting.


    "Actually, Aiwass is also a student of this year''s Theological Seminary," Hayna warmly introduced him to the elderly professor, "You should recognize him already.


    "He has been in poor health before, and so has been recuperating at home. But even so, Aiwass has been studying on his own at home¡ªyou know, his father is Professor Moriarty. So he hasn''t fallen behind in his studies... Although final exams are approaching, Professor Moriarty felt that Aiwass could alsoe and try taking them.


    "He, and Miss Lily here, are both new additions to our ss. However, he''s two months behind, so it might be difficult for him to get along with the other students. That''s why I''d like to borrow your microphone, Professor, to help Aiwass introduce himself."


    "Oh?"


    The elderly professor lit up at the request.


    He already had a favorable impression of the aplished young Aiwass from the newspapers, and now with his trusted student Hayna rmending him so enthusiastically, he looked forward to it even more.


    Moved by the idea, he asked Aiwass softly, "Do you have any knowledge about the Star Antimony Kingdom and Heracel?"


    "I do."


    Aiwass affirmed confidently: "I''m aware of the four nations of Star Antimony, Iris Flower, Narcissus, and ck Hawk that emerged after the division of the Heracel Empire."


    It was even beyond mere awareness¡ªthese countries'' backstories were a favorite topic of his screenwriter friend during meals. He worried he might identally spill something he shouldn''t...


    "Well then..."


    The open-minded old professor stepped aside with a chuckle, "Why don''t youe here and introduce yourself.


    "Afterward, you can talk about the founding of Star Antimony. Here''s the lesson n, and the textbook... start from this section. You can refer to them if you like, or improvise as you wish.


    "I believe after your appearance, they won''t be able to concentrate anyway. And since you''re in a wheelchair, it''s not easy for you to go up to the stage, so you should sit beside the podium anyway. Why not just take this ss... I''m sure the students will listen attentively."


    Professor Bard encouraged him, "Don''t worry, if there are any mistakes I will point them out on the side¡ªthis is a rare opportunity, isn''t it?" Find more to read at m_v l|-NovelBin


    Hayna standing aside was a bit stunned, hesitating for a moment, not sure if she should intervene.


    But Aiwass readily agreed, "No problem."


    This left her with no choice but to look on with a bitter expression, choosing to stay beside him.


    ¡ª¡ªAt least with her there, even if Aiwass didn''t do well, those rascals wouldn''t dare to make a fuss in front of her.

 Chapter 101: Chapter 66 Secrets of Avalon

    ¡ª¡ªSqueak.


    The sound of the wheelchair moving and then stopping echoed in the room.


    Aiwass was pushed to the front of the lecture hall by Lily and lifted his head, looking at the crowd before him with interest.


    The students were all looking at him.


    Some were astonished, some excited, some curious, some frowning, some expressionless.


    Some had just woken up, not understanding what was happening; others were incessantly introducing something to their neighbors.


    But without a doubt,


    Even the sleepiest students, those least interested in the ss, at least looked up at themotion caused by Aiwass.


    In the center of the crowd''s gaze, Aiwass looked back at them with a smile.


    In the face of people''s scrutiny and curiosity, he didn''t feel the slightest bit of stage fright. On the contrary, he was eager, as if his veins were pulsing with restless sparks. His spine involuntarily tensed as though a girl''s fingers had lightly brushed it.


    For the first time, Aiwass also realized... and for the first time, he had the chance to realize, how well he adapted to such a "public" setting.


    He raised his face, revealing a bright smile.


    He reached out to turn on the loudspeaker, and the newly activated device emitted a sharp buzz.


    "Hello everyone, I am Aiwass Moriarty.


    "You might already know me... from the mouths of others, from the newspapers. Or perhaps you don''t¡ª but that doesn''t matter. From now on, I am a student like you, from the same academy, same department, and even the same ss."


    Aiwass''s gentle voice, with a hint of echo, spread throughout the entire lecture theater: "As you can see, my health isn''t very good. I''ve been studying at home since the beginning of the semester. This person behind me is my friend Lily, who also helps me get around normally."


    Having said that, the maid behind him, Lily, bowed slightly to the crowd on behalf of Aiwass.


    Then, Aiwassughed and said, "It seems Professor Bard wanted to put me to a little test. To see if I''ve been studying at home... and to see if I can keep up with everyone''s pace.


    "So, I''ll talk a bit about it. But after all, I am a student just like you, so if I say something wrong, please be forgiving."


    He said this and nced at the content on the lesson n.


    Most of what was discussed was the same old stuff, mostly about what some person did on some day in some year... No wonder the students would feel drowsy listening.


    If he talked about these things again, once the novelty wore off, they would likely get bored.


    Besides, Aiwass wasn''t particrly familiar with the details; it would be rather troublesome if he identally discussed confidential matters that he shouldn''t know.


    So Aiwass quickly had an idea.


    He lifted his head and cheerfully asked, "We have now reached the establishment of the Star Antimony Kingdom in our studies, right?


    "The Heracel Empire split into the Star Antimony Kingdom, the Iris Kingdom, the Narcissus Duchy, and the ck Hawk Duchy¡ª"


    At this point, he suddenly changed the subject: "Then let me talk about something not in the textbooks but still permitted by Her Majesty to teach¡ªsomething interesting.


    "...Do you know why the vast Heracel Empire suddenly fragmented into pieces?"


    After a brief silence, someone raised a hand.


    Aiwass looked at them and nodded slightly.


    And a steady male voice rose: "It was because Transcendent demon magic, which pursued the Path of Transcendence, became widespread in the empire and eventually summoned powerful demons, leading to the ughter of the royal family. After the royal lineage was cut off, the local leaders dered themselves kings. Then came the six years of the ''War of Fragmentation.''"


    So this was Avalon''s version of history, Aiwass thought.


    "Please sit down, sir."


    With an understanding in his mind, he nodded slightly in response: "What you say is correct, but it is not entirely so.


    "It was indeed the direct cause for the rupture of the empire''s session and extinction of the bloodline, but it wasn''t the fundamental reason for the empire''s fragmentation.


    "The fundamental reason lies in the contention of Paths. Most internal wars, invasions, and divisions within kingdoms of the world arise from disputes over Paths."


    As he spoke, Aiwass deftly shifted the topic to his area of expertise.


    Professor Bard stroked his chin, neither interrupting nor correcting.


    Because what Aiwass was saying wasn''t wrong, it still pertained to the fall of the Heracel Empire and the establishment of the Star Antimony Kingdom. It just involved topics from another subject... discussions and studies about the wars of Transcendents. However, the Theological Seminary didn''t actually teach this, so as supplementary reading, it was still quite good.


    When the students realized that Aiwass had started talking about Transcendents... they perked up with interest, all looking at Aiwass.


    History rting to Transcendents wasn''t necessarily esoteric knowledge, but it was surely as difficult to acquire as esoteric knowledge.


    Perhaps it was precisely because he was "Moriarty" that he had the chance toe into contact with such secrets.


    And it certainly sounded far more interesting than the dry history!


    "All of us here, as long as we are able to step into Transcendence, are fellow travelers on the Path of Devotion. A very few who cannot enter the Path of Devotion will transfer to the ''Individual Tactics Department'' next semester to join the Path of Authority. Since the Path of Devotion and the Path of Authority do not conflict, no one is aware of the inherent conflicts between paths.


    "Just as when studying art in the sixth department, one encounters the Path of Beauty¡ªan art as the beauty of eternity and the moment, it inevitablyes close to the Path of Dusk; and like the concept of the Gemini Mirror, when artists do not lean toward dusk, they tend to lean toward Bnce; those with romantic souls, meanwhile, incline to the ''Path of Love''.


    "However, regardless, there is a conflict between the Path of Beauty and the Path of Wisdom. The rational pursuit of truth and the emotional pursuit of beauty are ultimately ipatible.


    "Simrly, the Path of Authority, with its control of power, maniption of will, and leadership over others, inherently conflicts with the Path of Transcendence, which favors subverting the higher-ups, seeking transcendence, and aiming for something even higher.


    "The Path of Adaptation talks about conforming to nature and bing one with heaven and earth, while the Path of Bnce is aboutprehending the world and controlling nature.


    "Even we, the priests walking the Path of Devotion, have no say over those on the Path of Love. They are always greedy, always passionate, never sated¡ªhungry wolves that are never full, no matter how much they are fed. The light we emit is absorbed without much effect, like a pebble thrown into ake, barely causing a ripple.


    "The Nine Pir Gods are not united, and those Angel Envoys also have their loves, hates, jealousies, and resentments. There is a Knight under the Silver-Crowned Dragon''s scales who bears an old grudge against a Sage following the Great Sage, and that Sage was once killed by a Fairy of the Path of Love. The ''paths'' inherently conflict with each other."


    Aiwass casually raised the topic to the heights of the Nine Pir Gods, which was enough to send shivers down one''s spine.


    Moreover, he knew... these people were clearly more interested in the secrets of Avalon than in the direct history of the Star Antimony Kingdom.


    Therefore, seizing this opportunity, Aiwass turned the discussion to the royal family, exciting the students, "And that ''Knight'' was none other than the founding Monarch of Avalon, ''Lancelot I''.


    "The Sage chosen by the Great Sage as an Angel Envoy and ascended to the Dream Realm was called Merlin. He was, in fact, an ''Incubus,'' a near-impossible existence of half Phantom Demon, his father being a Demon of the Incubus race, and his mother a chaste virgin of the Path of Love.


    "She was very beautiful and had many suitors. However, the youngdy had a peculiar trait¡ªshe could never touch any man she could see. Thus, she hoped for a man she could not see to love her. After an encounter with an incorporeal Incubus in her dreams, she knew he was the one she had been waiting for... She used her path''s abilities to obtain the seed of an otherwise nonexistent being. Yes, this Sage was a ''child without a father.''


    "Born with half-demon blood, this Sage possessed extraordinary charm. At the age of fourteen, a Fairy of the Path of Love, residing in ake, fell in love with him. But knowing the love of the Path of Love was fatal, he kept his distance. In the end, he could not resist the Fairy''s persistent and passionate pursuit and entered into a rtionship with her.


    "They pursued fervent propagation. And during theirst... ritual together, the Lake Fairy killed him."


    Amidst the low exmations that arose, Aiwass then said, "However, this Sage called Merlin, after all, was half Phantom Demon. In a sense, he was also immortal.


    "Thus, he didn''t really die. He simply fell into a deep sleep, until muchter when he was revived.


    "After her role as a lover ended, this Lake Fairy''s next great act was as a mother¡ªher heart was filled with intense and pure maternal love. At that time, she became the Fairy foster mother of our Majesty... Lancelot I.


    "These were the rtionships between the three Angel Envoys when they were still mortals.


    "Afterpleting their great deeds on earth, they ascended to the side of the Nine Pir Gods and became Angel Envoys. Until today, they continue to battle each other in the Dream Realm."


    Hearing this, the students once again erupted into a loud discussion.


    But it wasn''t out of boredom¡ªquite the opposite. They were excited by it!


    Without a doubt, this was a story they had never heard before¡ªsecret histories of the founding monarch of Avalon, being discussed in ss!


    Read exclusive adventures at m_v-l''-NovelBin


    It involved numerous scenes that would make young people blush with agitation... whether due to desire or violence.


    ¡ªAnd the strict Professor Bard didn''t interrupt or make any corrections.


    Professor Bard was fond of having students give lectures, but usually, after a student spoke a few words, Professor Bard would interject, "Let me just say something," or "Let me make a correction," and then ramble on with a lot of dry and dull knowledge, dense with information. The student who hade up would just stand there, awkwardly smiling, listening to Professor Bard''s monologue until the ss was over.


    But the fact that the professor hadn''t grabbed the microphone to add a few words meant he approved of what Aiwass was saying!


    Who would have thought they''d hear such thrilling secrets in a history ss!


    Such a chaotic rtionship¡ª


    The boys were discussing animatedly in low voices, while the girls pretended to cover their ears, embarrassed. Some covered their mouths lightly, merely to hide their excitement and smiles.


    At that moment, many students finally understood why, even though the Path of Wisdom and the Path of Authority seemed to have no conflict, they were never legallypatible.


    This had nothing to do with disputes between the Paths, but rather with personal grievances of His Majesty.


    His descendants, out of respect for their ancestor who had ascended as an Angel Envoy, had banned the legitimacy of the Path of Wisdom within Avalon.


    "Incredible..."


    Professor Bard''s eyes widened in amazement.


    The bald little old man walked excitedly back and forth, forcibly suppressing his urge to rush over and chime in.


    The things Aiwass was talking about were, after all, going to be taught by the Theological Seminary sooner orter. None of it was taboo.


    It''s just that parts of this information were distributed among different courses: some in "Modern History of Avalon," some in "Apostle Rtions," and some in the elective "Ordinary Ritual Studies." "Apostle Rtions" was a sophomore course, whereas "Ordinary Ritual Studies" was an elective for juniors.


    The mere fact that Aiwass knew these things and was able to connect them coherently in his narrative was enough to prove that he had indeed been studying hard at home!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 102: Chapter 67 Assistant Aiwass

    Professor Bard was actually very liberal and knowledgeable.


    In fact, he was essentially the most authoritative historian in Avalon.


    It was just that he wasn''t good at lecturing¡ªinstead of teaching sses, he was more adept at studying diligently alone amid piles of ancient documents.


    At this moment, a thought arose in the history professor''s mind.


    Perhaps... he could hire Aiwass as his teaching assistant.


    His knowledge in this area had already surpassed that of many third-year students.


    But perhaps that wouldn''t work. Principally, assistants were to be chosen from outstanding juniors or seniors, just like Hayna.


    Mr. Aiwass was only a freshman, which was not exactly following the rules...


    While Professor Bard was lost in thought, Aiwass had already skillfully steered the conversation back to the Star Antimony Kingdom, capturing everyone''s attention and anticipation:


    "This is why the Path of Wisdom and the Path of Love were banned within Avalon.


    "Have you ever considered, if they had not been banned... but had been allowed to develop in bnce with the Path of Authority, what would have happened?


    "What we would be discussing then is the fall of the Heracel Empire."


    Aiwass said, looking down and raising his voice in contrast to the content on the lecture notes: "Students, please turn your textbooks to page two hundred and forty-one."


    The next moment, the ssroom returned to tranquility.


    The sound of turning pages rose uniformly and clearly within the ssroom.


    "The history of the Heracel Empire was long and its territory vast... and this would result in the existence of Transcendents from all the different paths within it.


    "You might find it hard to imagine, but the most mainstream mystical skill in the empire was Demonology. In fact, that was where the profession of ''Demon Schr'' first originated. People studied demons much like how we study mechanics and physics; they developed new rituals just as our inventors here craft new things. And under the Transcendent path, the Alchemists of the Path of Bnce and the Painters of the Path of Beauty each had their own associations."


    "Rituals, Alchemy, Art; the bnced development of these three mystical skills made the empire thrive and prosper."


    At this point, Aiwass set down the lecture notes.


    """


    He raised his head to begin speaking of his own matters, and the students uniformly looked up in anticipation, "But just one year before the Torn Earth War began, alchemists and artists had a fierce conflict."


    "The initial spark of the war was a painting titled ''The Alchemist''. It depicted the working environment of alchemists. Alchemy was originally closed off and secretive, but an alchemist opened his workshop to a painter friend, allowing the painter to sketch his work."


    "However, the painting invited the discontent of the alchemists. For one thing, it was not urate enough, with numerous errors in motion, cement, and attire, all distorted to make theposition look good; for another, it was too precise, such that a secret painting hung as a background on the alchemist''s wall was clearly captured¡ªthis painting suggested an ancient technique for ''creating artificial rats using grains and basil leaves,'' which was extremely valuable knowledge."


    "¡­Artificial rats?"


    Hayna, by Aiwass''s side, couldn''t help but frown and repeat, "What''s the use in that?"


    She had not heard this story before.


    And Aiwass''s amplifier had included her remark. This led to some murmurs among the students.


    Aiwass smiled and nodded slowly, saying, "Of course, we all detest rats. We wish them extinct¡­ but no matter what, this is a mystical technique for ''creating life from non-life.'' And ''Creation of Life'' is one of the alchemist''s highest ultimate pursuits."


    "Because of this serious leak, the alchemist and the painter involved were executed for the crime of divulging secrets. But the damage was done, and the still seething alchemists began to denounce the painters, iming the adverse impact was because the painters had released paintings about alchemy without notifying the Alchemy Association for review."


    "Thus, the alchemists began to mandate that all alchemical shops in the country stop selling pigments to those who appeared to be artists¡ªuntil the artists agreed to ''creative review''. This threat actually had no strength, as they did not prohibit buying on behalf, nor had they clearly defined what standards identified ''someone who looks like a painter''."


    "But the artists believed that this was a premeditated overreach of power by the Alchemy Association against the Art Association. If those things were not to be leaked, then they should not have been hung up in the first ce or the artists should have been notified in advance. Painters were merely responsible for painting and exhibiting them to others and were not responsible for leaks caused by the model''s mistakes."


    "Thus, they immediately counterattacked, painting arge number of works implying alchemical secrets. Because there was no explicit leaking of secrets but merely symbolic hints¡­ plus, alchemy itself did not have standardized professional terminology but had different ciphers for each person. They had ample excuses to im they had no malicious intent to leak secrets."


    Speaking to this point, Aiwass looked around, "I believe many of you here might have seen those ''paintings implying alchemy''? Those oldest ones originated from this period. And because they were mass-produced and cheap, they swiftly entered the Imperial market, bing affordable enough for imperial lords to easily collect several pieces."


    "This move broke the Alchemy Association''s monopoly on alchemy, leading to the birth of numerous non-academic folk alchemists. They were not professional enough andcked systematic alchemical knowledge¡­ but at this time, another faction of alchemists previously persecuted and suppressed by the Alchemy Association joined them, creating the still extant folk alchemy society ''The Twelve Keys''. They hid among the folk, and with the help of the Art Association, revealed all the most secret alchemical techniques through the symbolic means of alchemical paintings."


    "The furious Alchemy Association demanded the Demon Schrs capture and punish these traitors, but the Art Association sought to fully protect the legitimacy of ''The Twelve Keys'', insisting that the Demon Schrs were not to capture innocent painters. The conflict between the Transcendent Associations gradually surfaced¡­"


    "And while both sides were quarreling incessantly, a vampiric creature called ''Necrogo'' by the Empire infiltrated the Royal Capital. Meaning ''harbinger of cmity'', some called them ''Son of the Moon'' or ''Children of the Dragon''. They were not Phantom Demons, but they could devour weak Demons to be stronger, and could also resurrect repeatedly after death."


    "As a result, those Demon Schrs at the pinnacle of power became the hunted. Their strength soon weakened, and when they became weaker than both the Alchemy Association and the Art Association, the two formerly bickering associations suddenly fell quiet. They began to conspire together to seize the political influence of the Demon Schrs."


    "These Sons of the Moon are a special race from the Path of Love, also protected by the Eternal Self. Among them, the newborn can only act under the moon. The Transcendents from the Path of Love could transform into them through a certain ritual, just as Demon Schrs from the Demon''s Path could transform into Demons¡ªwhen someone from the Path of Love dies drained of blood, they would be ''newborn'' after forty days, devouring Demons and feeding on blood at night. If they receive enough nutrition during these forty days as a newborn, they can evolve into a true Son of the Moon after another forty days, that is, eighty days after death, acquiring the ability to move under The Sun."


    "It is said that their immortality originated from a Curse or possibly a form of Love. Their ability to prey on Demons is rted to the blood of the Serpent Father; hence, some schrs believe that the Eternal Self has a secret connection with the Serpent Father. As these two Pir Gods both oversee the Mystical Skills of ''Curse''. And perhaps the fact that the advancement ritual always takes ce ''under the moon'' is rted¡­"


    ```


    When Aiden heard Mr. Aiwass speaking from the lectern, he was momentarily stunned.


    He suddenly thought of something.


    Immortal beings, lifedrain, evil spirits resurrected from death...


    Subconsciously, he nced at Professor Bard and noticed that the professor did not correct him. Instead, he was watching Mr. Aiwass attentively.


    Which meant...


    ''Drac,'' as written, was all true?


    Meanwhile, Mr. Aiwass continued in his gentle and clear tone, slowly lecturing as if he truly were a teacher, "Students, this is what the book mentions about ''the weakening of the Demon Schr''s power leading the emperor to lose faith in them, and the Demon Schrs themselves bing unable to control the increasingly tense political situation in the empire.'' I think this should be a focus..."


    As he spoke, Mr. Aiwass looked toward Professor Bard to confirm, "Is that right, Professor?"


    The more Professor Bard listened, the more shocked and delighted he became.


    "...Ah, yes! That''s right!"


    The old professor was stunned for a few seconds before he reacted, squeezing up to the microphone and saying in his strict and uninflected voice, "Did you hear what Mr. Aiwass said? This line is important, take it down. Including the next one, ''In order to regain their political standing, the Demon Schrs risked holding a new sacrificial ritual...''"


    He read from the textbook for quite a while, and the students, rarely attending Professor Bard''s history ss, really did highlight the points as he had instructed.


    After finishing, the old professor didn''t snatch the microphone away.


    Instead, he stepped aside and patted Mr. Aiwass''s shoulder with a smile, warmly gesturing for him to continue speaking.


    The more the old professor watched this handsome and learned young man, the more he liked him.


    Especially since he himself wasn''t adept at teaching...


    It must be said that Mr. Aiwass''s control over the pace of the ss was indeed good!


    If he were not a Transcendent, and instead went to the Faculty of Humanities to study history, he could have be a remarkable historian. Or he might also have been an excellent tutor.


    It''s just a pity... he surely wouldn''t abandon the Path of Devotion.


    But now, Professor Bard had made up his mind.


    Even if it were against the rules, he would snatch up Mr. Aiwass first, to be his teaching assistant!


    Never mind the "in principle"¡ª


    Otherwise, sooner orter, other instructors would discover Aiwass''s strengths!


    At Royal Law University, there''s no shortage of instructors like him who are good at research but not at teaching.


    But they won''t beat me, because I''m going to make the first move!


    The old professor, delighted, squinted his eyes and couldn''t help but repeatedly praise, "Truly deserving of the recognition by Isabel the Princess... seeing is believing."


    ...Huh?


    Hayna, standing to the side, was taken aback, "The Princess?"


    "Yes," the old professor kindly exined for this student, whom he also liked, "Last night, Mr. Aiwass was invited by Isabel the Princess to a private dinner. He didn''t return until veryte... by now, the entire upper echelon of Avalon should know about this.


    "At first, I thought it was a rumor, but now it seems likely to be true. It''s not just schrly knowledge, but most importantly, this demeanor¡ªspeaking in front of so many people for the first time, and students he had never met before, yet not showing any stage fright and keeping the pace. He must have the adaptability of the Path of Authority.


    "I now believe that he really did decisively shoot the Demon Schr dead. When I saw the news, I thought it was ttery towards ''Moriarty,'' crediting your achievements to him... after all, how could a disabledmoner possibly attack a Transcendent who has resonated with a Path? The oppressive power of Transcendents over us ordinary people is absolute... not trembling to incapacity already demonstrates an iron will."


    "That is true."


    Hayna instinctively defended Mr. Aiwass in a soft voice, "I saw it with my own eyes."


    But she still found it somewhat unbelievable.


    Because she, too, had seen the Princess and knew what kind of person she was.


    That seemingly introverted adorable girl... would actually invite someone over for a meal?


    And, until veryte...


    ¡ªWas it the ''veryte'' she was thinking of?


    ```

 Chapter 103: Reflections on Listing - Glimpses of Light through the Hole

    Illumination Stream: Tomorrow''s update of over 10,000 words, going live at noon!


    Then, as usual¡ªthose who are not in a hurry, let''s sit down and have a chat.


    I believe... starting a new book is like peering into a beam of light through a pinhole.


    The reader, on a pitch-ck snowy night, approaches house after house, each with its lights on, windows papered over.


    Although one can generally make out the brightness of the different houses, their internal structures are unknown, not to mention what the upants are doing.


    Only by peering through the holes in the wall does one see the interior; carefully turning one''s head, looking through the small hole, taking advantage of the dim light inside to view the room''syout, can one see what sort of household it is, and why there is light inside.


    When everything is clearly seen and the mind is at ease, one will knock softly on the door, push it open, and enter. Sharing in that rare light of a snowy night.


    This light is the one that emanates from the depth of my heart, meant for all who wish to share it with me.


    It is not a zing light, not like The Sun that can illuminate everyone; neither is it like the shadowlessmps of an operating room, which can illuminate through darkness.


    It is merely antern, a candle, a light bulb, the faint light I am able to emit. But it''s enough to light up this small room.


    Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelBin


    I hope that you can see me through this light.


    Report on performance: the current following of Mercury''s Blood has surpassed ten thousand.


    This is undoubtedly the highest achievement of my career.


    Although my creative performance hasn''t been too shabby, having written five novels before Mercury''s Blood, umting more than nine million words atpletion, three of them with over ten thousand subscriptions, one a boutique book... yet none of the three made it to first-rate features.


    Not even one.


    The performance of all my works relied on the stable storyline that I painstakingly improved over time. And this book now stands as my highest achievement in my writing career.


    It even made me somewhat apprehensive, as I didn''t know if I could maintain these hard-earned results.


    But at the same time, I also felt proud.


    Because I have always adhered to the principle "if I don''t understand the underlying principles of the plot, no matter how interesting it unfolds, I won''t write it." Sudden sess thates without understanding can destroy one''s worldview. Hence, I only write what I understand, what I know, what I can replicate.


    And indeed, the skills honed in thest book have proven useful!


    Although some authors might im to be practicing their craft after a flop, even before I started Tower of Overturning, I told everyone that I would write a book specifically for practice... mainly because while writing yer Supreme Justice, I felt inadequate in many areas, unable to write in various genres.


    But at that time, "yer Supreme Justice" was serializing well, and I didn''t dare to try any fancy tricks for fear of ruining the book. So even if I had new ideas, I didn''t dare to practice them.


    I deeply believe in a truth: if you don''t practice, you''ll never learn; just as you won''t understand without experience.


    So I recorded all the plotlines that I wanted to write but didn''t dare to, those I wasn''t sure would be well-received, and practiced them in "Tower of Overturning."


    In order to eliminate distractions, I deliberately chose subjects I wasn''t good at. This was done purely to see how readers reacted to different plots, character development and writing styles, and then to make corrections ordingly.


    It''s like when you''re creating a character in a game, you start with a buzz cut or bald head!


    I chose science fiction among many genres because of my love for it.


    ¡ªBeing unskilled doesn''t mean you can''t love it!


    I call this "pragmatic idealism."


    While harboring dreams, I still pay attention to improvement and gains.


    It''s like in games, where you try to maintain strength while bncing cool and aesthetic appearances¡ªneither purely about looks, nor purely about strength.


    When I first started writing Mercury''s Blood, it was all instinct, without any outlines or nning. There were many moments of regret thinking, "If only I had done this or that." I recorded those too, firmly intending to "one day reim my ce."


    I had a chance to do so with yer Supreme Justice, writing in a way that as much as possible conformed to popr aesthetics.


    And the sess of yer Supreme Justice was ten times that of Mercury''s Blood.


    But as I wrote yer, I rued new regrets. And so, this new book underwent further optimization, and its sess reached four times that of yer.


    ¡ªAs long as one insists on "effective learning" and engages in constant self-criticism, real improvement is possible!


    ...Of course, the downside is that my health has been getting worse.


    I''ve now shifted to going to bed at half-past ten in the morning and waking up at half-past five in the afternoon. Writing for eight hours a day, I feel as if I''m about to ascend to a higher ne.


    This book''s length in the outline should be enough for two years of writing, over three million words.


    I hope nothing happens to me.


    After this book ispleted, I''m going to rest for at least half a year, maybe a year. I''ve already made ns with a friend to stay at his vi in Five Fingers Mountain in Hainan, where I''ll be going to recover my health.


    Just over one month of rest this time was simply not enough. Even though the outline, setting, and inspiration were mostly finalizedst October, during that month-plus of rest, I spent half the time recuperating.


    Let''s p our hands, because now it''s time for the gratitude segment¡ª


    First, I''d like to thank my friends for their chapter pushes. Next time we meet, I''ll treat you to a meal!


    Next, I''d like to thank my editor Canaan! Before this book was released, Canaan and I spent a long time checking the setting and outline, which turned out to be a great help!


    And then there''s my invincible operations officer and Painter, [Jar Without Grain]!

 Chapter 104: Reflections on Listing - Glimpses of Light through the Hole_2

    Can Master ¡ª¡ª Just look at this book and the cover of the previous one, Tower of Overturning; they were both drawn by Can! Even the character design for this book and all sorts of merchandise were crafted by her hands!


    What kind of divine operation officer is this, do you guys have one (loudly)?


    She started a lottery in the book review section, offering some Can-made merchandise for free! Although authors can''t sell merchandise, we can give it away for free if it doesn''t cost anything!


    ¡ª¡ª Of course, I''ll cover the shipping costs! Go check it outter!


    Next, I''d like to thank the readers for their rewards!


    Thank you, Rich Lolita TianThenLv, for the contribution of the Silver Alliance!


    After meeting TianThen in Mercury''s Blood, TianThen has been feeding one to three alliances every month. Over at Cat Guest, TianThen has already umted three Silvers, while yer Supreme Justice and Tower of Overturning each received a Golden Alliance, with Tower getting several additional Silver Alliances...


    I''m truly grateful for TianThen beauty, feeling like I''m being taken care of meow.


    Thank you to God Hidden in the Cloudy Day, LitianX, Complicated Mood??, Shadow Neon me, Cosmos Dove, Tchaikovsky Tarkovich, Song of the Bathing Wind, We0205, Gu Xinxuan, and Saeki Gaya for feeding the alliance!


    Thank you to Cangjing Dream Sea, Electric Fourth Level, and Demon City Listening Day for throwing in the Helm!


    Also, thank you for everyone''s rewards, votes, and subscriptions!


    I never had such wonderful beginnings (Geodude clenches its fist)... This phrase doesn''t seem very auspicious, so forget it.


    Someone asked me before, can you really stick to studying two hours every day? Or rather, how do you ensure you can persist in daily learning?


    The answer is quite simple. And as soon as I say it, you''ll immediately know the viability of this method ¡ª¡ª though probably not everyone can use it.


    Simply put, every day after I start working (which is to say, writing), I would immediately put down my work and start reading.


    The strong desire in my heart not to work, the obsession to escape from it, would propel me to read as much as possible to while away time. And at that moment, when I escape into a space without the trouble of work, I be free, and my learning efficiency skyrockets.


    It''s like when you''re doing homework and flip through the textbook to look up answers. But the intense unwillingness to do the homework pushes you to read more of the textbook, to thoroughly flip through it... Things that you usually would not look at be incredibly sweet when driven by the impulse to escape reality.


    ¡ª¡ª Back in my school days, to avoid doing homework, I could even stare at the medicine bottles on the desk for a long time, not to mention extracurricr reading!


    As it turns out, people are willing to do anything to ck off. And indeed, they can pull off everything imaginable.


    This book''s inspiration came from a great many books, as well as a lot of games ¡ª¡ª when at home, Cat only does two things, either reading books or ying games.


    I can''t count the number of game settings stitched into my books, but there must be a lot. My nature is different from my friend God Hidden, who is happy just by writing; writing is something he loves to do. As for me, writing is simply a handy job, and my ultimate purpose is still to read and y games... Writing books is just a by-product of inspiration overflowing after extensive reading and gaming.


    In short, if something looks familiar, it''s a tribute! Thanks to all the games that provided inspiration, including ones I love like Granblue Fantasy, Final Fantasy, Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Esotericism Simtor, and many more!


    Lastly, I''d like to share a book list since I''ve been asked about it several times before.


    I initially thought about waiting for the right moment to release it all at once ¡ª¡ª but I was too busy over the New Year and forgot about it!


    If you''re not interested in this, feel free to skip it. The following part doesn''t rte much to this book, it''s a section on knowledge sharing~


    The following books I''vepleted from the serialization of "yer Supreme Justice" in 2019 to the present, those I''ve read more than twice, and some I''ve browsed but not yet finished for the first time, represent a massive four-year library!


    By looking at these books, you could probably get to know the author''s personal tastes.


    I consider this to be a way of enhancing mutual understanding.


    This isn''t just about sharing my favorite books with readers who like this book, but also about sharing with author friends usable writing materials and sources of inspiration. Unless there''s an ident, these books should all be avable, but this is not an endorsement because everyone''s preferred genres are different, and the books I read are actually quite diverse.


    Of course, to avoid the suspicion of exploiting the opportunity to rmend books, I did not include web novels that I usually read.


    These books are not in any particr order, this is not a rmendation, these are just books I''ve read. I only provide a briefment on the books I''ve revisited multiple times, and not on those that I haven''t read in recent years. I consider any foolish books that I''ve read as unseen, probably deleted from my memory cache. The rest I add as soon as I remember the names, and there may be omissions as well.


    If there are multiple versions or simrly named titles, I will mark the author for ease of search:


    1. Read but not finished:


    Scott''s "Wa Magic";


    "The Witch, A History of Fear";


    Lewis L. Broli''s "The Cattle Raid";


    Robert''s "Odd Spirits and Strange Creatures";


    Sue Tompkin''s "Astrology Aspects Research", "Astrological Magic: Basic Rituals & Meditations";


    Leo Strauss''s "History of Political Philosophy";


    "The Third Wave";


    "Criminal IA";


    Borges''s "The Book of Sand";

 Chapter 105: Reflections on Listing - Glimpses of Light through the Hole_3

    ```


    "Tess of the d''Urbervilles";


    "The Sun, Moon and Stars Murder Case";


    "The Bible, Protestantism, and the Rise of Natural Science";


    "A History of International Rtions, Volume III."


    2, Have finished reading:


    "Morphology of the Folktale";


    "The Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic among the Azande";


    "The Myth of the Origin of Fire";


    "Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844";


    "The Origin of Ancient Chinese Thought Patterns and Yin-Yang Wuxing Theory";


    Toffler "The Transfer of Power";


    "A guide to Western Mysticism";


    "The Secrets of Alchemy";


    "The Avesta: Zoroastrian Sacred Scripture";


    "The Shepherd''s Bible";


    "Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man";


    "A Study of Narrative Theory in English and American Novels";


    "Detective AI";


    "The Thirteenth Step";


    "Headless - The Haunting Presence";


    "The Longest Day in Chang''an";


    "When Mysticism Knocks at Your Door";


    "The Homeric Epics: The Odyssey";


    "The Moon and Sixpence";


    "Strangers'' Music";


    "The Hammer of ss";


    "The Poetry of Edgar An Poe";


    "Man and His Symbols";


    "Yes, Minister";


    Thomas Rolleston "Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race"


    Richard Morgan "The Recement";


    Kuga Kazuhiro "The Tragedy of Delta";


    Roger Zzny "Lord of Light";


    Thomas Mann "Doctor Faust";


    ke Snyder "Save the Cat!";


    "Deep Into History: A Study of Marx''s View of History";


    Guo Qingguang "A Course in Communication Studies (Second Edition)";


    Higashino Keigo "ck Humor Novels", "Twisted Humor Novels", "Divide", "Who Killed Her", "Tragic Mannequins";


    Tagore "Bow and Lyre";


    "The Weight of a Butterfly: Selected Poems of Nelly Sachs";


    "A Biography of Milton"; Continue your adventure at m|v-l''e -NovelBin


    Friedrich Schiller "Letters on Aesthetic Education";


    "The Alphabet Killer Club";


    Pamuk "My Name Is Red"


    "A Detailed Study of the Rigveda";


    "Discourses on the Bhagavad Gita";


    Liu Zhongyu "Chinese Supernatural Culture";


    Ye Shuxian "Heroes and The Sun: The Prototypical Reconstruction of China''s Ancient Epics";


    Okashima Futari "Klein Bottle";


    "Detective ? Twilight Traveler";


    3, Have read more than once, repeatedly over the past three or four years:


    Sawaki Ry¨­ken "ck Magic Handbook"; (A very good reference book, clearly exined)


    McKee''s "Story"; (Highly rmended, I think all novelists need to read it)


    Frazer''s "The Golden Bough"; (Rmended, essential for anyone writing about the mystical)


    ke Snyder''s "Save the Cat! Strikes Back"; (Quite a bit better than the first)


    "The Purple and the ck"; (A thrilling fantasy story)


    "Selected Poems of Tagore"; (The cat quite enjoys reading poetry, and this book is also a creative foundation for Tower of Overturning)


    Ryunosuke Akutagawa''s Short Stories "Rashomon"; (This is a memory from my high school days)


    Hitchcock''s short stories and screeny collection "Suspicious Shadows", "North by Northwest", "The Double Killer", "Criminal by Proxy", "Midnight Pursuit"; (This is a memory from my middle school days, still evergreen whenever I read it)


    Gibran''s "The Prophet, Sand and Foam"; (Reading poetry +1)


    "Death Fugue: Selected Poems of Paul Cn"; (Reading poetry +2)


    "Monarch ? Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II"; (One of my favorite light novels)


    "The Garden of Sinners"; (My second favorite!)


    "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"; (A creative foundation for yer Supreme Justice)


    "Faust"; (Also a foundation for yer Supreme Justice)


    "The Godfather"; (Part of my childhood, I was so young when I read this)


    The Complete Sherlock Holmes; (Childhood +1)


    Agatha Christie''s Mystery Detective Novelsplete set. (Childhood +2)


    ...


    Finally, I''d like to rmend a public ount "Literary Theory and Criticism", asionally finding good books there.


    Although I feel there probably aren''t many readers who would scroll this far, I still should conclude with that customary line...


    I hope to see you again tomorrow.


    ¡ª May happiness always be with you.


    ```

 Chapter 106: Chapter 68 Mass Trust Brushing

    Unlike the timetable Aiwass was familiar with, Royal Law University did not have the traditional "early eight o''clock ss".


    The Theological Seminary''s morning sses began at nine and afternoon sses at three. There was only one ss during the entire morning or afternoon, but it was uncertain when it would end.


    Typically, instructors would carry an hourss timed for forty minutes to an hour and a half depending on their lesson n. Each time the sand ran out, a crisp "ding" would sound.


    After a break to use the restroom or grab a bite to eat, the instructor would flip the hourss and start the next session. ss would be dismissed after the sand ran out a second time. Discover more content at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    Two rounds of the hourss, one forward, one reverse. This rule and timing method was a sign of respect for the Pir God of the Path of Bnce, "Hourss".


    He presided over the concepts of "knowledge" and "science", and all the ancient civilizations'' earliest "professional educators" and "professional researchers" were His angel envoys.


    Although Aiwass left home quite early, with Lily pushing the wheelchair, they could not go fast. By the time Aiwass reached the school gate, it was ten o''clock sharp, and by the time they met up with Senior Hayna at the ssroom, ss was almost over.


    This session used a medium-sized hourss, with a duration of one hour per round. In other words, even without counting the break in the middle, this history ss, which was mainly reading from the textbook, required sitting in the ssroom for two hours.


    Even though Professor Bard''s ss was only once a week, that one session was extremely grueling.


    Normally, ten minutes before Professor Bard finished ss, students would start to get restless.


    Packing up their things, drinking some water, chatting, and nning with other students where to hang out afterward¡ªfor university students, it was a bit too early to eat, but there was scant time to go out for fun. Usually, they would y sports, cards, or chess, or go to do experiments, study, work on problems or exercise.


    Or they''d simply go to the sports field to watch the handsome guys and pretty girls of the sports faculty¡ªthis was also the time for the "Individual Tactics" department to practice horse riding or swordsmanship. Once students reached their second year in the Theological Seminary and learned the Illumination Art of healing others through physical contact, it became a perfect opportunity to find boyfriends or girlfriends.


    All they could do now was to painfully watch as the upperssmen snatched up the prime picks of their year, unable to do anything themselves.


    But, one way or another, it was definitely better than dozing off for two or three hours in the ssroom.


    Luckily, the professor was easy-going. Whether it was whispering or dozing off at the desk, as long as it was not too outrageous, he usually let it slide. He just carried on with his lectures.


    But today was different.


    The sand in the hourss was nearly depleted, and the students were indeed anxious.


    However, they were not eager to go out and y; they wanted to hear Aiwass continue to tell his story.


    They feared that once the sand ran out, Aiwass would reach the end of his shift and cease to speak.


    ¡ªWho will fill us in on the plot then?


    Going out to y was possible any day, but lively and detailed historical stories like this were not readily heard everywhere.


    Even if Professor Bard spoke for three full hours, their knowledge flowed away like water, leaving their mindspletely empty.


    But they swore that the stories told by Aiwass were so vivid they could even recount them with ir at tonight''s pub, dance, or other social events! An intriguing story that was mysterious enough, involved a multitude of Transcendents, hardly known to anyone, yet not considered a taboo¡ªthis alone could make them stars of the social scene for that brief hour!


    Even students who usually paid little attention in ss were now earnestly taking notes with pens or pencils.


    "In thetter part of the Soil-Cleaving War, these Sons of the Moon were defeated. Because of their trait of being immortal yet unable to cross flowing water, they were sealed by Duke Daffodil behind a waterfall in a prison carved out of the rock. The first Duke Daffodil was the head of the Court Alchemy Association and also the vice-chairman of the Mages Association. His titled rank of duke was bestowed by the emperor in the final moments of thete empire, making him thest noble of the empire.


    "The Narcissus Duchy also followed the Path of Bnce and Wisdom, and their capital was the former Imperial Capital of the old empire. This was the first state on the continent, and perhaps the whole world, controlled entirely by mages and alchemists¡ªthis might be the key point, students, please note it down."


    Aiwass spoke in an even tone, his voice clear and likable.


    He did not have the heavy regional ent or odd grammar of some instructors hired from outside, which required effort to fathom their meaning; nor was he like Professor Bard, whose speech was mumbled and monotonous, making it easy to fall asleep.


    As a native of ss Ind, Aiwass''s Avalonnguage was exceptionally standard¡ªnot like some instructors from ss Ind, whose voices carried a distinct Elvish Language ent, creating ambiguities for students unfamiliar with Elvish Language. For instance, Aiwass''s father, James Moriarty, was such an instructor.


    "And those Sons of the Moon who were not sealed, took refuge with the former Imperial Art Association and together established the Iris Kingdom. The Duke ck Hawk, who was stationed at the borders and a follower of Lord of Scalefeather, remained almost unscathed in the Soil-Cleaving War due to his neutral stance. With fertilends, the ck Hawk Duchy provided sanctuary forrge numbers of mercenaries, adventurers, and professional soldiers deprived of ie. Combined with the numerous hunters, pharmacists, and assassins trained by the ck Hawk Duchy, they became the most militarily powerful state after the disintegration of the empire."

 Chapter 107: Chapter 68: Bulk Trust Brushing_2

    ```


    Lily, who stood behind Aiwass, widened her eyes in surprise as she looked at her young master seated in the wheelchair before her.


    Lily only knew that Aiwass liked to read strange books at home, but because she strictly adhered to the discipline of a personal maid, she had no idea he was so well-learned!


    Gazing up at the quiet students from the podium, her tea-colored pupils seemed to shimmer with light.


    Yes, this is it...


    It''s wonderful; it''s exactly like the college ssroom I''ve dreamt of!


    When Aiwass reached this point, he smiled and said, "You must be wondering... why was the ck Hawk Duchy, the only country that preserved aplete military system, ultimately devoured by the Star Antimony Kingdom?


    "That''s because, the Star Antimony Kingdom inherited thergest legacy of the Empire¡ª


    "The Demon Schrs who were nearly exterminated by the Son of the Moon, and the Necromancers who, as loyalists of the old Empire, became targets in the early stage of the Fractured Earth War. Being the biggest losers, they had almost nowhere to go. It was then that those emerging alchemists from ''The Twelve Keys,'' who had amassed a huge amount of capital and talent during the war, gathered them together and established the Star Antimony Kingdom.


    "The alchemist who led the defection from the Alchemy Association and founded ''The Twelve Keys'' was Valentine I, the founder of the Star Antimony Kingdom. These alchemists frommoner and minor noble backgrounds did not destroy the old imperial nobility system, but kept it intact, carrying on without changing a bit of the ancient imperial traditions. Even the legal and official systems were virtually unchanged. Therefore, the people weed the rule of Valentine I even more¡ªthey simply had a more enlightened, younger emperor who came from among them, and essentially, their way of life did not change much.


    "This alchemist unified all the civilian alchemists, proimed the establishment of a nation based on alchemy, founded universities to openly teach alchemical knowledge, and lifted the ban on the sale of all alchemical books. The word ''Star Antimony'' carries the meaning of ''heart of a lion,'' and that is why the symbol of the Star Antimony Kingdom is a golden heart.


    "Unlike the traditional alchemical heritage of the Narcissus Duchy, the alchemists of Star Antimony were not seeking ''knowledge of the world,'' but rather to obtain the power to ''change the world'' to the greatest extent. They only created ''useful things,'' based entirely on utility, pursuing research with a clear purpose.


    "This is the biggest difference between ''Star Antimony-style Alchemy'' and traditional alchemy. Some of the knowledge in our modern ''chemistry''es from this Star Antimony-style alchemy. Doubtless, students¡ªI believe this is the key point. This is why the power of the Star Antimony Kingdom rose so rapidly, even allowing it to engulf the powerful Narcissus Duchy and ck Hawk Duchy."


    Alchemists are proud. No one can dictate an entire nation''s alchemists to conduct research in specific fields for the benefit of their ruler and country.


    ¡ªUnless that path is one chosen by the alchemists themselves.


    "During the Fractured Earth War, Valentine I continued to capture, study, and decipher the Son of the Moon... Eventually, he demystified some of the arcane knowledge of the Path of Love, turning it into his power.


    "After that, Valentine I proposed a brand-new concept: He believed the Philosopher''s Stone was unattainable. It went against one of the natures of the Path of Bnce¡ª''equivalent exchange'', so he no longer considered the Philosopher''s Stone as one of the three ultimate goals of an alchemist.


    "He introduced a new ultimate goal, which is another path he presented in his ''Triumphal Chariot of Antimony''¡ªthe ascension of antimony, the creation of ''Star Antimony.'' Before this time, antimony was not one of the ''sevenary metals'' valued in traditional alchemy; it was Valentine I who started the alchemical research on antimony.


    "Because antimony represents animal nature in alchemy, the refinement of antimony also signifies the refinement and ascension of animal nature.


    "That is to say¡ªif the method is correct, any mortal can ascend to divinity. This is the core belief of the people of Star Antimony."


    Aiwass concluded just as the bell of the hourss on the table rang out. The content in the book was also perfectly finished.


    And upon hearing the sound of the bell, the students began to voice theirints.


    ```


    "Ah, is it over already?"


    "Professor, let Aiwass continue speaking!"


    After all, the "history" Aiwass talked about was abnormally rich in filling in the details that were briefly mentioned in history books.


    In this world, secrets are wealth, and knowledge is power.


    The things he spoke of also involved a great deal of superficial knowledge about alchemy. For Avalon, where alchemy had only begun to rise twenty years ago, these were things that most students could not ess and were curious about.


    It was like those video creators who poprize niche but advanced knowledge, whose videos even those students who usually couldn''t be bothered to listen to sses watched with rapt attention.


    Aiwass deliberately steered towards the conflict in Paths, then shifted the focus to alchemy, exactly for this moment.


    He remembered that even a top student like Senior Hayna couldn''t resist the allure, although part of the reason was that she had an affinity for the Path of Transcendence and was inherently rebellious... But this also showed that despite the existence of Queen''s Authorized Alchemy, it remained a deeply mysterious entity even at the Royal Law University.


    So, these freshmen were naturally even less able to resist.


    Aiwass himself was two months behind, the son of a professor, and had a close rtionship with Hayna. This could actually cause his ssmates to be distant from him.


    But he knew.


    Hidden among these students were arge number of side quests¡ªalthough he had forgotten many of the details and triggers of those tasks, he clearly remembered the dense white question marks on the map. He also remembered the most crucial rewards.


    When he first entered school in the storyline, just after skipping the opening CG, he couldn''t help but blurt out, "Holy shit," when he saw those question marks.


    In the game, as an outsider with an unclear identity and without old ssmates, the yer usually had toplete at least two tasks to interact with these students. The first task typically involved solving some problem or trouble to gain their trust. Facing some difficult-to-deal-with students, one might even have toplete aplex chain of tasks.


    And the second, or rather thest task in a chain, was the real "mission." Completing it would yield arge amount of money, items, and books, or unlock reputations and secret shops in some areas.


    Going through them one by one was just too troublesome and a waste of time.


    Aiwass''s entrance was so striking partly because he intended to build presence, to make his ssmates remember him. He was establishing a persona of being "mysterious, gentle, and knowledgeable"... Later he would establish another persona of being "strong and helpful," essentially using his reputation to skip the initial "trust tasks."


    Seeing the exceptionally friendly and affable response from his ssmates in front of him, Aiwass knew that his primary task had clearly been aplished!


    It was all thanks to the assist from Senior Hayna and the professor.


    With the almost "transfer student" mystery BUFF, Aiwass''s maneuvers were much more effective than if he had just started school normally!

 Chapter 108: Chapter 69: Unlucky John Eden

    ```


    "No, no, ss is over, students. If I keep going, the dean mighte looking for trouble..."


    Havingpleted his task, Aiwass waved his hand with a light-hearted smile and turned off the loudspeaker.


    Meanwhile, another chorus of sighs rose from the students.


    "Howe it''s already over!"


    "Will youe to lecture again, Aiwass?"


    "You''d have to ask the professor about that!"


    "Professor, why did you only bring such a small hourss today!"


    "Right, didn''t you bring one thatsted an hour and a halfst time?"


    ...Huh? What about me?


    Upon hearing this, Professor Bard was taken aback.


    He suddenly widened his eyes, like a stage actor in a somewhatical manner, he shrank his neck and spread his hands, drawingughter from the students. Seeing this, the old professor himself couldn''t help butugh.


    "Alright, you''ve got my word. Next time I''ll bring you an hour and a half one!" said the old professor happily, rubbing his hands together.


    Since he didn''t use the loudspeaker to say this, only Aiwass, Lily, and Hayna, who were nearby in the noisy lecture hall, heard him.


    Hayna scratched her head with an awkward smile, not sure what to say.


    But Aiwass''s eyes lit up.


    Professor Bard''s reaction was important!


    With that reaction, he had a good idea of Professor Bard''s character.


    Since the students dared to joke with him, it meant he was probably very amiable; and since his lectures were so dull, yet when Aiwass entered not a soul whispered, skipped ss, or ate anything, it showed the students still had a lot of respect for the old professor.


    Hayna''s attitude towards him was also very natural and respectful - she probably didn''t have the brains or acting skills to fake it, so Professor Bard''s character was likely really good.


    And Aiwass had just intentionally talked about some things not part of this course, but the professor had shown no reaction.


    This showed he was not one of those old-fashioned typesmonly found in Avalon who always like to talk about rules and rank.


    Without a doubt, he could be a high-quality mentor.


    This was Aiwass''s second objective: to demonstrate his own excellence and find himself a good mentor.


    Now it seemed, this second objective might also be easily aplished!


    At Royal Law University, students all had to choose their own mentor and join a "ss." Otherwise, they would only be auditing students, unable to get authorization notes to go to certain ces from their mentors.


    The mentor had to teach them a course, and after joining a ss, the student''s day-to-day life was generally the responsibility of that mentor. Students belonging to one professor formed a ss.


    The number of students in a ss was usually not toorge and not necessarily from the same year.


    Previously, Aiwass had considered joining the ss of Senior Hayna or Princess Isabel... but upon further thought, given their personalities, the mentors they chose were likely specialized and definitely wouldn''t be teaching him.


    And that might mean his movements would be watched.


    But Aiwass wasn''t sure which people in the school belonged to his foster father, so he was very cautious.


    Professor Bard was called "Professor," which meant he was a mentor of the highest rank, on the same level as Foster Father James Moriarty. His privileges were the highest, able to authorize the highest level of passes. Aiwass had heard clearly... he knew Aiwass had gone to the Hall of Silver and Tin the night before, indicating that he was among Avalon''s upper echelons, at least having wide connections.


    Good character,mendable personality, open-minded, sufficient resources, wide connections.


    The most critical point was, Professor Bard was not a Transcendent - this was extremely important for Aiwass.


    Because Aiwass didn''t need a mentor to n his path to promotion, an ordinary mentor would give him more freedom in his actions.


    - Considering this, he would be the perfect mentor!


    "Goodbye, Professor!"


    Suddenly, a little girl with silver hair came over and said with a lively smile, "And Mr. Aiwass!"


    Aiwass waved his hand and just chuckled without replying.


    But with her, it was as if a switch had been flipped.


    The other students followed her lead, running over and saying goodbye to Aiwass with bright smiles.


    "Are you free tonight, Aiwass?"


    An outgoing redhead came over, warmly inviting, "Wanna go for a drink? It''s on me!"


    "- Or would you like to go to the White Ballet Shoes Club?"


    A girl with long deep blue hair came overughing, "Do I have the honor of inviting Mr. Aiwass?"


    "Do you y tennis, Aiwass?"


    "I heard you used to be on the cricket team!"


    Soon the students were swarming around him. They easily epted the idea of having a "very impressive mysterious transfer student" in the ss, and full of curiosity and enthusiasm, they eagerly wanted to befriend Aiwass - even though strictly speaking, Aiwass wasn''t actually a transfer student.


    Aiwass handled the conversation with all of them systematically, but basically, he gave the same response - that was to initially refuse but not topletely shut the door. He didn''t specifically reply to anyone, and soon the lectern was crowded with people.


    But Professor Bard didn''t take the opportunity to leave; instead, he stood waiting behind them. Hayna didn''t dare to walk away either and just stood by to watch.


    - This was quite a novel feeling.


    It was the first time she''d seen people so close yet not there for her. With the novelty also came a slight sense of emptiness...


    Although she usually found it a bit troublesome, suddenly beingpletely ignored also felt a little lonely...


    When asked "Do you always read at home" and "How do you know so much about history," Aiwass merely smiled without saying a word.


    "- Yes."


    ```


    ```


    But just then, Lily behind him couldn''t help but show off for him, proudly puffing out her chest and answering earnestly, "Aiwass read a lot, a lot of books at home!"


    "...At home?"


    Hearing someone question this softly, Lily suddenly realized she might have said something she shouldn''t have.


    Should she continue to hide her identity...?


    "Ah, it''s like this."


    Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Aiwass exined with a smile, "Actually, Lily is my personal maid.


    "Of course, she also has the right to attend school here. She always loved reading at home, just like me. It was an unexpected matter that held me up, dying her... Otherwise, we would havee here together two months ago."


    It was a kind lie he told to protect Lily.


    It wasn''t like that¡ª


    Fully aware that it was only because of Aiwass''s connections that she was able to attend school, Lily instinctively pursed her lips¡ªbecause otherwise, she would have feltpelled to defend Aiwass once again.


    It wasn''t Aiwass who dyed her. She was just incidental.


    It was entirely for her sake that Aiwass had belittled himself...


    But to Lily''s surprise, revealing her maid''s identity on her first day of school did not lead to the expected questioning and scorn.


    To her astonishment, the students'' attitudes were very friendly, devoid of any aggressiveness.


    "It''s fine, actually, I had already guessed it."


    "That''s right, no friends act like that... It''s just that everyone deliberately didn''t bring it up."


    "Are you called Lily? You''re really pretty! Are youing dancing tonight?"


    "Do you two often read books together?"


    These students, who have a natural aptitude for the Path of Devotion, are rtively gentle and kind-hearted by nature. Among the six faculties, they also tend to have the best average temperament.


    Seeing how easily she was epted by her ssmates, Lily felt her eyes moistening for a moment.


    She never expected that she, abandoned by her biological parents and even stripped of her surname, would one day have the fortune to interact with these friendly peers...


    It was all thanks to the kindness of Mr. Aiwass!


    "A-Aiwass, long time no see!"


    At that moment, Aideng, with his brown curly hair nearly covering his eyes, finally made his way through the crowd and greeted Aiwass in a low voice, "I have something to discuss with youter... I''ll wait for you outside!"


    "Long time no see, Aideng."


    Aiwass wasn''t surprised and simply nodded with a smile in response, "See you in a bit."


    He indeed remembered this person, even having looked for him specifically during the lecture just before.


    This person was "John Eden," considered a rtively important supporting character. At least, he lived longer... much longer than Hayna.


    Maybe it''s because fools tend to live long, and when Aiwass kicked the bucket, he still hadn''t died.


    Aiwass called him Aideng rather than John, not due to a distant rtionship, but because in Avalon, there were simply too many people named "John." There were even eight Johns among the twenty or so boys in their middle school ss, including two with the exact same full name.


    Aideng had a pretty important long-term task on his hands. It involved the return of the Son of the Moon and even merged into the main storyler on.


    Moreover, the memories of "Aiwass" himself also included him¡ªone of the few same-sex friends from his middle school days, not quite a childhood friend, but still an acquaintance.


    In Aiwass''s memory, Aideng was a friend with a rather good personality. Perhaps because his mother was a priest, he had been brought up to be gentle and kind to others since childhood. His father was an antiques dealer, not doing a very big business, but still moderately well-off.


    Even though his pocket money wasn''t particrly abundant, Aideng was very generous, always keen to treat others. His gentle nature meant that during quarrels, he would always apologize first. His only two ws were not being very smart and being somewhat lecherous... In simple terms, he was an easy catch.


    Moreover, he was unlucky and not very good at judging people, often encountering bad women. After being milked of gold coins by bad women, he would usually be dumped. He would take some time to grieve by himself before being hooked by the next bad woman.


    yers joked that he was a "bad woman ma," to the extent that it became a plot inevitability¡ªwhenever they saw Aideng rushing over excitedly saying "I''m in love again," they knew without even looking that his new me was definitely up to no good.


    ...Looking at him now, he''s probably already been targeted by someone.


    Aiwass''s noticeably special response made others look at Aideng, who usually didn''t stand out, with some surprise.


    But they quickly caught on, "Did you and Aiwass used to be ssmates?"


    "Ah... Yes," Aideng replied softly, not quitefortable with so much attention.


    "Then bring him along for drinks, Aideng!"


    "Invite him over for some fun¡­"


    "Do you know which flowers he likes, ssmate Aideng?"


    "...Ah, wait, wait a minute... I''ll ask, I''ll ask..."


    Aideng, not used to speaking with so many people at once, felt his scalp tingle for a moment.


    He quickly squatted down and skillfully squeezed over to Aiwass, then asked in a not too certain whisper, "Can I tell them about you, Aiwass? Is there anything I shouldn''t say?"


    "Yes, you can," Aiwass nodded with a smile, "You can say anything.


    "In fact, please, I ask you to chat with them for me... I''ve got to talk to a professor now."


    He trusted Aideng''s character and knew he would not besmirch him.


    "Oh, no problem."


    Upon hearing that Aiwass had asked him to do something, he readily nodded.


    The ssmates also heard that Aiwass had something to do, so they tactfully refrained from bothering him and turned to Aideng for conversation instead.


    After all, even if Aideng wasn''t very noticeable, they were all young people on the Path of Devotion with simr temperaments, and they''d been acquaintances for two months. Even the most enthusiastic person was morefortable dealing with familiar faces. They just wanted to satisfy their curiosity with questions or invite him to join in an activity, so turning to Aideng was more convenient and more polite¡ªparties always require a go-between for invitations, after all.


    And only after most students had left did Aiwass have a chance to turn back and ask the professor politely and softly: Enjoy exclusive content from mvl


    "Professor Bard¡­ do you still need a student?"


    ```

 Chapter 109: Chapter 70 The Perfect Candidate for Mentor (3rd Update)

    "Oh? Ah, that''s true... You arrivedte and haven''t been assigned a mentor yet."


    Hearing this, the short, bald professor hesitated for a moment and touched his chin: "Aren''t you with Professor Moriarty?"


    In the instant Aiwass heard these words, he knew the other must be facing some sort of difficulty.


    Because Aiwass was very confident.


    He had made a favorable impression and could see the evident fondness in Professor Bard''s eyes. He had surely maxed out his goodwill and even being invited to be a teaching assistant wasn''t out of the question.


    He was just taking on a student, which was much simpler than finding a teaching assistant.


    ¡ª¡ªIf Aiwass had been a bit more emotionally intelligent, he should have smoothly changed the topic at this point.


    But when Aiwass set his sights on something, he wouldn''t easily let go.


    He was very greedy. When something was delivered to his lips, within reach of a little effort, there was no rationale in spitting it back out¡ª


    "...Because I think it''s not good. It doesn''t sound good to say it out loud... the other students always seem to maintain some distance from me."


    Aiwass pulled the nket meant for warmth over his knees.


    He ced his hands on his legs, leaning slightly forward with politeness and earnestness: "Just like my older brother Edward. He didn''t even attend the Royal Law University back then for the same reason.


    "I believe that in an educational environment like this, being too close to family and rtives isn''t beneficial for one''s growth and training and can easily lead to conflicts with acquaintances."


    "...That''s true indeed."


    Professor Bard nodded slightly in agreement: "And James, he''s taken a long leave of absence, and there''s no telling when he will return. Besides¡­"


    the old man''s gaze involuntarily nced at Aiwass''s legs.


    If Aiwass hadn''t abruptly pulled the nket, Bard had almost forgotten about his poor health and mobility issues.


    He indeed needed adult care¡ªhaving only Miss Lily with him certainly wasn''t enough. She could only be considered a peer to Aiwass, not an elder.


    Although these students were all of age, in old Bard''s eyes, they were still children.


    Professor Bard nced only subconsciously and quickly shifted his gaze away politely.


    Because he wasn''t entirely sure why Aiwass needed to use a wheelchair, nor did he know if there was any hope of recovery.


    If even the priests that Professor Moriarty could find were unable to heal Aiwass with Illumination Art... perhaps his condition was indeed severe. In that case, paying attention to this would be disrespectful and might even bring sadness to someone.


    Aiwass noticed this and immediately guessed what Professor Bard was thinking.


    This meant that the old man in front of him was indeed a person of delicate and tender thoughts.


    Then I definitely can''t let go!


    Aiwass thought.


    "Is there some difficulty you face?"


    Encouraged by this thought, Aiwass sincerely said: "I often enjoy studying imperial history, and you are the most professional schr in this field!"


    Truthfully, Aiwass hadn''t known Professor Bard before this.


    But after all, he was a "professor" hired by the Royal Law University. This indicated that he must be at the pinnacle of the academic field. And because Aiwass spoke vaguely and didn''t get into the specifics of the sub-fields, unless Professor Bard had absolutely no research on imperial history, he couldn''t be wrong in what he said.


    If by some minute chance that was the case, it would just be Aiwass''s bad luck.


    However, Aiwass''s luck was indeed good.


    Professor Bard rubbed his hands together joyfully, proudly saying: "Ah, indeed. When ites to the history of the Heracel Empire, nobody knows it better than I do."


    "Yes," Aiwass smoothly changed the topic, "I also think we need to research the Star Antimony Kingdom more. They may be the most formidable foes¡ªfar stronger than the Irisflower People."


    "Indeed so."


    Professor Bard nodded earnestly: "Many Avalonians consider the people of Star Antimony dangerous and wicked. That''s because their Demonology is an openly taught science. But in my opinion, the ''practical alchemy'' that is gradually losing its status in Star Antimony is actually what deserves the most attention."


    Hearing this, Aiwass understood that Professor Bard indeed possessed true schrship.


    He happily continued along the topic presented by Professor Bard: "Yes, the essence of their alchemy is no longer to decipher everything but to create things that ''can make money''. Precisely because of this shift in focus, alchemy has be more widely popr.


    "The users of alchemy are no longer the royally appointed alchemists in yellow robes of high standing, squandering the emperor''s generous funding on research that seems momentarily useless and unintelligible tomon people, asionally producing one or two items whose principles arepletely unfathomable yet powerful.


    "Instead, it may be a literate person from a rural vige or small town... who, through self-taught alchemy, has set up an alchemy shop, selling various practical alchemy products. And they might identally invent something particrly useful without realizing it. Stay connected with mvl


    "Besides using alchemy, such persons are no longer of the same ss as orthodox alchemists. They have no intention of progressing far on the Path of Bnce, and stepping into the world of Transcendence is solely for earning money."


    "You''re speaking brilliantly!"


    Professor Bard nodded in admiration, pping his hands in delight.


    His eyebrows dancing with excitement, he added, "I think this is another understanding of the ''Path of Bnce'' by Valentine I¡ªmoney is the chip of all things, which is also a way to parse andprehend the world. Not from the perspective of alchemy, but from economics, technology, and the needs of the people..."


    He spoke endlessly, while Aiwass nodded and smiled, asionally interjecting with a quip.


    In the eyes of Aiwass, it would bepletely reasonable for the Star Antimony Kingdom to tten the continent.


    Because the vision of Valentine I had utterly transcended the eras of Avalon and the Iris Kingdom. The most probable threat to Star Antimony was the Narcissus Duchy, made up of arge number of spellcasters.


    But now, Star Antimony had preemptively extinguished it.


    ...Rather, it''s that Star Antimony hadn''t been able to annex the Iris Kingdom thus far purely because internal strife over Paths had drained its energy.


    This was all maintained by those Demon Schrs, seen as horrifying by people from other nations, as they fought for the voice of these pragmatic alchemists; while the struggles within the aristocratic ss, in turn, entangled the career paths of the civilian alchemists.


    Hayna hesitated on one side.


    If Aiwass couldn''t find a mentor, that would be troublesome. But her mentor was her own swordsmanship instructor, definitely someone she couldn''t introduce to Aiwass.


    If Professor Bard still disagreed... Maybe she should ask her mentor to help introduce another mentorter?


    "...That''s true. In my view, the peace and stability within Avalon are precisely because the Transcendentmunity is in a stable situation. Her Majesty''s 47th Royal Pardon weed Transcendents from other Paths, so we don''tck the skills of a specific Path, preventing us from falling behind as a whole; and by always maintaining the Path of Authority as the mainstream and giving special treatment to a few special Paths, they can ensure that others cannot vie for power..."


    "Fortunately, Her Majesty has realized this," Aiwass sighed, "If Avalon were to reform ten yearster, I think it might be toote."


    In fact, it was already toote.


    Aiwass added in his mind but dared not say it out loud.


    Although Avalon and Star Antimony were enemy nations with obviously escting tensions, in reality, all of Avalon hadn''t truly seen Star Antimony as the source of the crisis.


    Because the rtionship between Star Antimony and the Irisflower People was clearly worse.


    Now that Star Antimony had reimed the ck Hawk Duchy and the Narcissus Duchy, swallowing the Iris Kingdom would restore the empire to its original territory.


    The improvements in rtions between Avalon and Iris Kingdom werergely due to pressure from Star Antimony¡ªa mutual concern. Even though Avalon and the Iris Kingdom were in a situation where if one fell, the other would be endangered, there were still many overly optimistic voices within Avalon. The most hopeful perspective was that they could even resume cooperation with Star Antimony and import arge amount of alchemical products from there.


    Because Avalon had a market and a substantial gold reserve. And the products from Star Antimony were clearly abundant... As long as they continued to trade, Star Antimony shouldn''t invade.


    As for the royal family¡ª


    In fact, many knights in present-day Avalon wished that there wasn''t a monarch ruling over them.


    "...Actually, I think it might already be toote."


    But to Aiwass''s surprise, Professor Bard murmured in a low voice, "We''ve fallen too far behind..."


    ¡ªHmm?


    Aiwass was startled and looked incredulously at the elderly professor.


    Was the old man''s insight so sharp?


    "Haha, don''t look at me like that. I was just saying it offhand..."


    Professor Bard realized he''d spoken out of turn.


    He hastily waved his hands and shifted the topic with a smile, "Actually, I don''t usually take undergraduates as students. Because I''m not very good at taking care of people... I''ve been a professor for over thirty years, and it was only during my time at Milton that I tutored some students. I haven''t taken on any new students sinceing to ss Ind.


    "Of course, I still need graduate students. But you... you''re not quite suitable."


    Well, that''s strange.


    You praise me so highly only to hit me with an ''unsuitable''?


    Aiwass was genuinely interested and inquired, "Why am I unsuitable?"


    "Because you might only know me as a historian," Professor Bard answered sincerely, "but actually, I am an archaeologist.


    "You and the students of the Individual Tactics Department only have to take ''Modern History.'' I teach this course only during the first term of the first year in the third to sixth departments for three months, and you''re about to finish it. Next year''s second term, I have to teach ''World History,'' ''Modern History of Avalon,'' ''Genealogy of the Heracel Empire,'' as well as ''History of the Horus Empire'' to the second-year students of the Humanities Department, and ''Ancient Horus Language'' as an elective course.


    "And in the third term, I''m not even at the university. I''ll be abroad on archaeological digs with my graduate students... You still have sses and obviously can''t follow me. But if you stay at the university, it''s as if you have no mentor. Who then would take care of you?"


    Professor Bard sighed, "I really like you as a student... but I can''t take you. That would be irresponsible."


    Upon hearing this, Aiwass was momentarily stunned, then ecstatic.


    Is this a stroke of good fortune?


    Not being in the university for a whole term each year?


    ¡ªDoesn''t that mean I can kick up my heels?


    And also having the chance to go on international archaeological digs?


    ¡ªDoesn''t that mean I could get early ess to the prehistoric relics of other countries? Is it really this amazing?

 Chapter 111: Chapter 72 White Ballet Shoes Club

    Aiwass actually didn''t find it strange that Princess Isabel came to look for him.


    Princess Isabel had always longed to have a true friend, but whether it was the curse that erupted unpredictably on her body, or her social status, and her own character ws, all made this quite difficult.


    Other people were either too scared to approach her, or they didn''t know how to approach her. The very few who dared to brave the curse to try to get close to Isabel were mostly those with ulterior motives.


    Transcendents with the Adaptation of the Path of Beauty must have exceptionally strong intuition and perception¡ªthey are those who, even before embarking on their Path, could vaguely sense the attitudes in others'' hearts and the beauty in every detail of all things.


    There was no reason for it, nor was it a sort of knowledge or technique. It was just a pure, inexplicable "intuition."


    Those who wanted to take advantage of Isabel''s mncholy and loneliness to infiltrate for some purpose were easily caught by her. And even if the other party''s disguise and acting were strong enough to deceive her intuition, she still had Mrs. Yanis as a counselor.


    Having already gained the approval of Yanis, Aiwass was tantamount to passing a character review; because of the experiences in Dreand, coupled with the enjoyable dinner conversation, she was nowpletely at ease with Aiwass.


    In other words, Aiwass was now the only friend with whom Isabel could interact normally.


    Whether it was showing off her friend to others, demonstrating that "she too has friends," or even just simply seeking out Aiwass for fun... Isabel would surelye.


    ¡ªCompared to Aiwass, it was Isabel who seemed to be the "new transfer student." And Aiwass had be the only acquaintance she knew in the unfamiliar terrain of the school.


    What Aiwass didn''t expect was that she woulde so quickly and urgently.


    And what surprised Aiwass the most was¡ªhow did Isabel know he was here?


    An hour ago, even he didn''t know he would be here!


    It wasn''t a scheme by his elder brother Edward. Instead, it was Hayna, upon receiving a task from Edward, realizing she couldn''t always be by Aiwass''s side... so she decided on the spur of the moment to use her own prestige to help Aiwass make some familiar faces.


    To put it simply, she was showing the attitude of "this child is under my protection." It was entirely her impromptu decision.


    The Royal Law University covers a vast area. Walking from the College of Arts in the sixth division to the Theological Seminary in the fourth division would take at least an hour on foot.


    Without a clear purpose, Isabel couldn''t possibly wander all the way here.


    After Aiwass expressed his doubts, Isabel''s expression stiffened.


    She hesitated for a while and then gave a somewhat uncertain but honest answer, "I knew you wereing to school today, and I asked a teacher... The teacher said you were here.


    "The teacher also said you were giving a lecture to the students. I was curious... so I wanted toe and see."


    Isabel said wistfully," But it seems I''m toote. By the time I got here, your ss was already over."


    Aiwass understood.


    It was something Yanis saw from the paintings. Indeed, the university''s hallways and ssrooms were filled with various portraits of famous people. And those paintings were her eyes.


    No wonder Her Highness was hesitant.


    After all, it was also a form of spying¡ªshe was worried that he would be angry because of this, or that it would cause him to distance himself from her.


    ...But this was an entirely unnecessary concern.


    How could he possibly be angry over something like this? Isabel was really too sensitive.


    However, Aiwass didn''t directly say anything about "not minding it." Because in this context, even if he did say it, she might not believe him, at best understanding it as a "polite way of saying he doesn''t mind, just to keep her from feeling awkward."


    While it wouldn''t damage Aiwass''s own image, it might make her feel more guilty and anxious.


    Therefore, Aiwass lightly skipped over the subject, showing his attitude that he truly didn''t mind:


    "Your Highness, did you have the morning off today?"


    "I took leave,"


    Isabel answered without hesitation, "It''s a vocal music ss... I''m doing very well in this subject, so missing it once in a while is no problem."


    Aiwass was somewhat helpless, "That really wasn''t necessary..."


    Hearing their conversation, Professor Bard, who was standing behind Aiwass, suddenly froze.


    Princess Isabel... wasn''t she supposed to love singing?


    His gazended on his new student, filled withplexity.


    "That''s it!"


    Isabel suddenly thought of something, her eyes lit up.


    She interrupted Aiwass and, smiling at Aiwass and Lily, said, "The house I gave you... it looks okay, doesn''t it?"


    "I haven''t moved in yet, Your Highness,"


    Aiwass spoke softly, "I''ve just arrived at the university and haven''t had a chance to see it. But my luggage has been sent ahead."


    "How about I take you both there after lunch?"


    Isabel quickly added, "If you have ns for lunch, then in the afternoon... or evening would be fine too."


    ...She really feared being rejected by him, and was also afraid of being a bother to others.


    Aiwass was very aware of this.


    So he simply looked directly at his old ssmate, John Eden. Isabel followed his gaze towards John.


    In an instant, the other students who were watching also turned their attention to Little John.


    Suddenly sted by so many gazes, Little John was stunned for a moment.


    He felt a chill run down his spine and the pressure mounting, his body so rigid he couldn''t speak.


    ¡ªAt that moment, Aiden felt as if he could understand why Princess Isabel was always so cautious with her words.


    When he was silently observed by so many people with ambiguous yet seemingly understandable intentions, he also didn''t dare to move nor speak rashly.


    "Speaking of which, Aiden¡­"


    In the utterly silent atmosphere, Aiwass spoke up, "You were looking for me just now, was there something you needed?"


    "I¡­"


    Aiden hesitated to continue. He felt the gazes around him grow even heavier.


    Do I have something¡­ or should I not?


    Scratching his head in distress, Aiden nced at Princess Isabel''s expression and answered hesitantly, "It''s also possible to say there''s nothing¡­"


    "Then that means there is something."


    "Ah no, not that... I just had some minor thing I wanted to ask you about, it''s regarding something mentioned in a novel! It''s not urgent¡­"


    Aiden was sweating profusely.


    Princess Isabel clearly wanted to go y with Aiwass¡ªwould he seem too insensitive if he said he did have something?


    Forget it, at worst I''ll just discuss what Aiwass talked about in ss previously tonight...


    ¡­Wait, what?


    Why not just take Aiwass there to talk on my behalf?


    At this point, Aiden suddenly recalled what he should say, and his words flowed smoothly, "I know a ce that''s really fun. After you''re free, I would like to invite you over!"


    Aiwass arched an eyebrow without responding.


    Because he heard "novel," he realized what the scenario was.


    It was Aiden''s first mission since his debut.


    John Aiden was given a copy of "Drac," sparking a slight interest in the existence of vampires. He appears after the yer has obtained permission from the professor and requests the yer to investigate whether "vampires truly exist." He had bet that vampires were real at the White Ballet Shoes Club, but he didn''t have ess to the library.


    After this quest chain ispleted, it unlocks the "White Ballet Shoes Club" map and the club''s favor.


    ¡ªYes, favor.


    Though "White Ballet Shoes Club" sounds like a dance club, it actually has some but not much rtion to it.


    It is said to be a club, but in reality, it is more like a student society with a threshold to entry. Initially established by a group of students who enjoyed ballet performances, they took turns inviting ballet troupes from the Iris Kingdom to perform at the Royal Law University, while also promoting their hobby to other students.


    As more people join, it''s no longer just a circle for ballet enthusiasts¡ªafter all, too much of anything can get tiring. So now, it has be a hub for all sorts of performing arts enthusiasts including theater, opera, and stage ys.


    Every day, singers, bands, dance troupes, and theater groups are invited to perform. You can go watch for free, enjoyplimentary catering, or simply treat the performance as background music, finding a corner to have tea and chat with others. If a band is ying, interested students can also take to the dance floor.


    Even though the club is located within the college, even after students graduate, they are not barred from returning¡ªonly that they need to pay the membership fee again.


    In a sense, then, it''s like a form of permanent alumni association.


    Since such socializing has an element of privacy, to join the "White Ballet Shoes Club" one must be invited by a member. The inviter is also the guarantor, vouching for the new member''s character. If a member is expelled formitting disagreeable acts, the guarantor will also be penalized.


    Isabel had always been intrigued by this club. Yet, she couldn''t find anyone to invite her, and she dared not enter such a confined social environment alone¡ªshe knew without guessing that she would instantly be the focus upon arrival.


    It might even inconvenience others, making their rxed atmosphere tense... and that could cause dislike.


    Certainly, if Aiwass were to join the "White Ballet Shoes Club," he wouldn''t need toplete any "trust quests." In fact, just moments ago, several people had already invited him.


    In Aiwass''s memory, that minister''s secret could only be investigated through the "White Ballet Shoes Club." Because resting here were judges, inspectors, monitors, and civil servants¡ªalmost everyone from different systems could be seen here, except for military personnel.


    Therefore...


    Aiwass thought to himself, narrowing his eyes.


    He might as well agree to Little John''s request. And take Isabel along as well.


    He hadn''t forgotten his prior intention.


    He was to help Isabel build confidence, to help her find good friends. And now was a perfect opportunity.


    Aiwass spoke softly, "I guess the fun ce you''re talking about is the ''White Ballet Shoes Club,'' right? Quite a few ssmates have already invited me just now, it seems genuinely interesting¡­"


    Hearing this, Isabel''s eyes brightened.


    She looked eagerly at Aiwass, clearly hoping he would agree.


    In this way, Aiwass as a formal member could invite her in too!


    However, Isabel did not realize that Aiwass''s way of doing things was more straightforward than she imagined:


    "I do have some time this afternoon. Once the afternoon sses are over, I can join you."


    Aiwass looked at Isabel with a smile and then returned his gaze, "However¡­"


    "Would you mind if I brought along two more people?"

 Chapter 111: Chapter 72 White Ballet Shoes Club

    Aiwass actually didn''t find it strange that Princess Isabel came to look for him.


    Princess Isabel had always longed to have a true friend, but whether it was the curse that erupted unpredictably on her body, or her social status, and her own character ws, all made this quite difficult.


    Other people were either too scared to approach her, or they didn''t know how to approach her. The very few who dared to brave the curse to try to get close to Isabel were mostly those with ulterior motives.


    Transcendents with the Adaptation of the Path of Beauty must have exceptionally strong intuition and perception¡ªthey are those who, even before embarking on their Path, could vaguely sense the attitudes in others'' hearts and the beauty in every detail of all things.


    There was no reason for it, nor was it a sort of knowledge or technique. It was just a pure, inexplicable "intuition."


    Those who wanted to take advantage of Isabel''s mncholy and loneliness to infiltrate for some purpose were easily caught by her. And even if the other party''s disguise and acting were strong enough to deceive her intuition, she still had Mrs. Yanis as a counselor.


    Having already gained the approval of Yanis, Aiwass was tantamount to passing a character review; because of the experiences in Dreand, coupled with the enjoyable dinner conversation, she was nowpletely at ease with Aiwass.


    In other words, Aiwass was now the only friend with whom Isabel could interact normally.


    Whether it was showing off her friend to others, demonstrating that "she too has friends," or even just simply seeking out Aiwass for fun... Isabel would surelye.


    ¡ªCompared to Aiwass, it was Isabel who seemed to be the "new transfer student." And Aiwass had be the only acquaintance she knew in the unfamiliar terrain of the school.


    What Aiwass didn''t expect was that she woulde so quickly and urgently.


    And what surprised Aiwass the most was¡ªhow did Isabel know he was here?


    An hour ago, even he didn''t know he would be here!


    It wasn''t a scheme by his elder brother Edward. Instead, it was Hayna, upon receiving a task from Edward, realizing she couldn''t always be by Aiwass''s side... so she decided on the spur of the moment to use her own prestige to help Aiwass make some familiar faces.


    To put it simply, she was showing the attitude of "this child is under my protection." It was entirely her impromptu decision.


    The Royal Law University covers a vast area. Walking from the College of Arts in the sixth division to the Theological Seminary in the fourth division would take at least an hour on foot.


    Without a clear purpose, Isabel couldn''t possibly wander all the way here.


    After Aiwass expressed his doubts, Isabel''s expression stiffened.


    She hesitated for a while and then gave a somewhat uncertain but honest answer, "I knew you wereing to school today, and I asked a teacher... The teacher said you were here.


    "The teacher also said you were giving a lecture to the students. I was curious... so I wanted toe and see."


    Isabel said wistfully," But it seems I''m toote. By the time I got here, your ss was already over."


    Aiwass understood.


    It was something Yanis saw from the paintings. Indeed, the university''s hallways and ssrooms were filled with various portraits of famous people. And those paintings were her eyes.


    No wonder Her Highness was hesitant.


    After all, it was also a form of spying¡ªshe was worried that he would be angry because of this, or that it would cause him to distance himself from her.


    ...But this was an entirely unnecessary concern.


    How could he possibly be angry over something like this? Isabel was really too sensitive.


    However, Aiwass didn''t directly say anything about "not minding it." Because in this context, even if he did say it, she might not believe him, at best understanding it as a "polite way of saying he doesn''t mind, just to keep her from feeling awkward."


    While it wouldn''t damage Aiwass''s own image, it might make her feel more guilty and anxious.


    Therefore, Aiwass lightly skipped over the subject, showing his attitude that he truly didn''t mind:


    "Your Highness, did you have the morning off today?"


    "I took leave,"


    Isabel answered without hesitation, "It''s a vocal music ss... I''m doing very well in this subject, so missing it once in a while is no problem."


    Aiwass was somewhat helpless, "That really wasn''t necessary..."


    Hearing their conversation, Professor Bard, who was standing behind Aiwass, suddenly froze.


    Princess Isabel... wasn''t she supposed to love singing?


    His gazended on his new student, filled withplexity.


    "That''s it!"


    Isabel suddenly thought of something, her eyes lit up.


    She interrupted Aiwass and, smiling at Aiwass and Lily, said, "The house I gave you... it looks okay, doesn''t it?"


    "I haven''t moved in yet, Your Highness,"


    Aiwass spoke softly, "I''ve just arrived at the university and haven''t had a chance to see it. But my luggage has been sent ahead."


    "How about I take you both there after lunch?"


    Isabel quickly added, "If you have ns for lunch, then in the afternoon... or evening would be fine too."


    ...She really feared being rejected by him, and was also afraid of being a bother to others.


    Aiwass was very aware of this.


    So he simply looked directly at his old ssmate, John Eden. Isabel followed his gaze towards John.


    In an instant, the other students who were watching also turned their attention to Little John.


    Suddenly sted by so many gazes, Little John was stunned for a moment.


    He felt a chill run down his spine and the pressure mounting, his body so rigid he couldn''t speak.


    ¡ªAt that moment, Aiden felt as if he could understand why Princess Isabel was always so cautious with her words.


    When he was silently observed by so many people with ambiguous yet seemingly understandable intentions, he also didn''t dare to move nor speak rashly.


    "Speaking of which, Aiden¡­"


    In the utterly silent atmosphere, Aiwass spoke up, "You were looking for me just now, was there something you needed?"


    "I¡­"


    Aiden hesitated to continue. He felt the gazes around him grow even heavier.


    Do I have something¡­ or should I not?


    Scratching his head in distress, Aiden nced at Princess Isabel''s expression and answered hesitantly, "It''s also possible to say there''s nothing¡­"


    "Then that means there is something."


    "Ah no, not that... I just had some minor thing I wanted to ask you about, it''s regarding something mentioned in a novel! It''s not urgent¡­"


    Aiden was sweating profusely.


    Princess Isabel clearly wanted to go y with Aiwass¡ªwould he seem too insensitive if he said he did have something?


    Forget it, at worst I''ll just discuss what Aiwass talked about in ss previously tonight...


    ¡­Wait, what?


    Why not just take Aiwass there to talk on my behalf?


    At this point, Aiden suddenly recalled what he should say, and his words flowed smoothly, "I know a ce that''s really fun. After you''re free, I would like to invite you over!"


    Aiwass arched an eyebrow without responding.


    Because he heard "novel," he realized what the scenario was.


    It was Aiden''s first mission since his debut.


    John Aiden was given a copy of "Drac," sparking a slight interest in the existence of vampires. He appears after the yer has obtained permission from the professor and requests the yer to investigate whether "vampires truly exist." He had bet that vampires were real at the White Ballet Shoes Club, but he didn''t have ess to the library.


    After this quest chain ispleted, it unlocks the "White Ballet Shoes Club" map and the club''s favor.


    ¡ªYes, favor.


    Though "White Ballet Shoes Club" sounds like a dance club, it actually has some but not much rtion to it.


    It is said to be a club, but in reality, it is more like a student society with a threshold to entry. Initially established by a group of students who enjoyed ballet performances, they took turns inviting ballet troupes from the Iris Kingdom to perform at the Royal Law University, while also promoting their hobby to other students.


    As more people join, it''s no longer just a circle for ballet enthusiasts¡ªafter all, too much of anything can get tiring. So now, it has be a hub for all sorts of performing arts enthusiasts including theater, opera, and stage ys.


    Every day, singers, bands, dance troupes, and theater groups are invited to perform. You can go watch for free, enjoyplimentary catering, or simply treat the performance as background music, finding a corner to have tea and chat with others. If a band is ying, interested students can also take to the dance floor.


    Even though the club is located within the college, even after students graduate, they are not barred from returning¡ªonly that they need to pay the membership fee again.


    In a sense, then, it''s like a form of permanent alumni association.


    Since such socializing has an element of privacy, to join the "White Ballet Shoes Club" one must be invited by a member. The inviter is also the guarantor, vouching for the new member''s character. If a member is expelled formitting disagreeable acts, the guarantor will also be penalized.


    Isabel had always been intrigued by this club. Yet, she couldn''t find anyone to invite her, and she dared not enter such a confined social environment alone¡ªshe knew without guessing that she would instantly be the focus upon arrival.


    It might even inconvenience others, making their rxed atmosphere tense... and that could cause dislike.


    Certainly, if Aiwass were to join the "White Ballet Shoes Club," he wouldn''t need toplete any "trust quests." In fact, just moments ago, several people had already invited him.


    In Aiwass''s memory, that minister''s secret could only be investigated through the "White Ballet Shoes Club." Because resting here were judges, inspectors, monitors, and civil servants¡ªalmost everyone from different systems could be seen here, except for military personnel.


    Therefore...


    Aiwass thought to himself, narrowing his eyes.


    He might as well agree to Little John''s request. And take Isabel along as well.


    He hadn''t forgotten his prior intention.


    He was to help Isabel build confidence, to help her find good friends. And now was a perfect opportunity.


    Aiwass spoke softly, "I guess the fun ce you''re talking about is the ''White Ballet Shoes Club,'' right? Quite a few ssmates have already invited me just now, it seems genuinely interesting¡­"


    Hearing this, Isabel''s eyes brightened.


    She looked eagerly at Aiwass, clearly hoping he would agree.


    In this way, Aiwass as a formal member could invite her in too!


    However, Isabel did not realize that Aiwass''s way of doing things was more straightforward than she imagined:


    "I do have some time this afternoon. Once the afternoon sses are over, I can join you."


    Aiwass looked at Isabel with a smile and then returned his gaze, "However¡­"


    "Would you mind if I brought along two more people?"

 Chapter 112: Chapter 73 I Want to Paint a Picture for You

    Aiwass mentioned "two people" because there was also Lily.


    His requestpletely caught his ssmates by surprise.


    ¡ª Had Aiwass''s familiarity with the princess reached the extent that he could directly invite her to join an unfamiliar society?


    Aiden couldn''t help pping his hands, feeling mentally refreshed, invigorated, as if he had rified a problem that had troubled him for a very long time.


    ¡ª I knew it, there must be a rtionship between them!


    But they did not realize that both Aiwass and Isabel were actually aware of the "White Ballet Shoes Club."


    The ssmates were also enthusiastic. They epted the request without hesitation and nearly argued over "who should extend the invitation."


    Although the inviter was also a guarantor and would be responsible if the invitee caused any issues, conversely, if the inviter could bring in someone of significance, it was a matter of great prestige for them.


    After all, that was Avalon''s only princess!


    Although they had never been in touch, their curiosity was piqued. They did not have the opportunity nor the courage to make contact.


    But now, everyone present knew that it was Aiwass who actually brought Princess Isabel to the club. In other words, Aiwass was responsible for the matter. He was merely borrowing a slot from them in advance.


    Even if they couldn''t speak with the princess, at least they could get somewhat closer to Aiwass¡ªand to personally invite the reclusive princess into the club... Even if they were just nominally the inviter, it was definitely something worth boasting about.


    No responsibility to shoulder, yet plenty of benefits to reap.


    This was an opportunity hard toe by even with the best of luck!


    Aiwass was merely sitting in his wheelchair, smiling quietly, happily observing the scene.


    He was satisfied with what he had done. It conformed to his aesthetic and way of handling things.


    He had previously helped Lily apply for a school slot from the princess, which was beneficial for the princess, as she finally started to exercise her power; simultaneously, it was good for him and Lily as well.


    Just now, he had arranged for Professor Bard to be his mentor and made an appointment to explore the ruins together... It was favorable for both parties.


    And now, by securing a club invitation for the princess, both parties were pleasantly surprised.


    ¡ª It was a win-win situation.


    The zero-sum games of life and death are not that plentiful in this world. Many conflicts are merely due to ack of efficientmunication or unnecessary greed.


    If handled properly, many things can be mutually beneficial. Aiwass was adept at facilitating such connections.


    Having agreed on this matter, Aiwass left with Princess Isabel. Hayna inquired about Aiwass''s dormitory and also left ¡ª she wouldter guide Aiwass to the new ssroom in the afternoon.


    The noon sun of winter was not harsh.


    On the way, Aiwass could clearly see that Isabel was very happy. She walked beside Aiwass with her hands behind her back, even humming a tune softly.


    Now, Aiwass finally saw traces of a young girl in Isabel¡ªthose carefree feelings characteristic of peers.


    It was what she naturally should have had.


    Now, merely catching a glimpse of its shadow was enough to make him very satisfied.


    Isabel suddenly remembered something and turned to say, "About that painting, it might take a few more days to deliver because it''s too precious. If it''s kept at home, the environment is not as well-preserved as in the museum... So the teacher sent a letter to the Holy Nation today, intending to invite an old friend to Avalon. He could help preserve the artwork with Preservation Arts to prevent idental damage.


    "If the preservation work is well done, it might not get here until next month... Would that be okay? If you don''t want to wait, the teacher can also ask that old friend not toe. In that case, the painting would need to be sent to the Moriarty Museum and inscribed with ''Donated to Aiwass Moriarty'' ¡ª the painting is yours alone, not the Moriarty Family''s."


    These were the words that the teacher had asked her to pass on¡ªthis was the "official business" Isabel believed she was there for today, at least in her own mind.


    "Then I''ll wait a bit longer,"


    Aiwass replied with a smile.


    At this point, it wouldn''t be very good of him to say "no need to trouble yourself" or "whatever works,"


    "But since Master Yanis''s letter has already been sent, I will look forward to that peerless masterpiece arriving at my home,"


    Aiwass replied cheerfully.


    Then, they talked about campus life.


    As the conversation went on, Aiwass suddenly realized... they were actually heading towards the cafeteria?


    He had thought Isabel was nning to invite him to a grand hotel outside the school, or perhaps even to return to the Hall of Silver and Tin for a meal.


    However, it made sense upon reflection, as her visit had been on a whim. It was normal not to have made a reservation.


    "Princess Isabel... do you also dine at the school cafeteria normally?"


    Aiwass asked with interest.


    "I''ve been there before,"


    Isabel said, much more rxed since leaving that group. Even her voice had be more fluid and lively.


    Walking with Aiwass in the shade of the trees, she said softly, "But I only went once. They all sat together, chatting and eating. There were ordinary friends as well as couples.


    "I didn''t even know where I should sit. I didn''t want to sit next to others, but I was also afraid that someone I didn''t know would sit next to me."

 Chapter 113: Chapter 73 I Want to Paint a Picture for You_2

    ...have you never thought about having a table to yourself?


    Aiwass was taken aback for a moment.


    Although he had long known that this princess did not possess the arrogance and frailtymonly associated with "princesses," this level of politeness seemed a bit too excessive, didn''t it?


    However, Aiwass quickly guessed what might be the issue, "Could it be that someone has approached you? Or did you overhear someone gossiping?"


    "...Huh?"


    Isabel was momentarily stunned.


    She stopped in her tracks, looking incredulously at Aiwass.


    And Lily also took the opportunity to stop the wheelchair under the shade of the trees, her hands folded as she stood quietly behind Aiwass.


    "It''s just a guess,"


    Aiwass exined with a smile.


    "...That''s exactly it,"


    Isabel nodded in admiration and sighed softly, "Am I being a bit too pretentious? Just yesterday, I told you I wanted friends... but the truth is, people have approached me before. It''s just that at the time, I felt a bit ufortable... and still ended up fleeing."


    "Wanting friends does not mean you have to ept anyone you don''t like as a friend,"


    Under the midday shade, Aiwass''s voice rang out clear, "Being temporarily without friends does not mean you have to lower your standards for friendship. ''Friends'' are still better fewer and better chosen. If you have to warp your personality to gain friends, they are not truly your friends, and you won''t find happiness in theirpany."


    "Master Yanis won''t give you a definite answer to this kind of question, but I can¡ªyou''re not wrong, Your Highness. That''s my answer."


    "If you really don''t want to go to a crowded ce like the canteen, there''s no need to. Let''s go, back to the vi you gifted me... Lily is also skilled in cooking."


    "Or we could go out and find a nearby restaurant, my treat. Consider it a return invitation for your hospitalityst night. After all, afternoon sses don''t start until three, and if you don''t nap, we have plenty of time."


    "...Ah, that''s not necessary,"


    Isabel was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into a radiant smile, "Because now I already have a friend to dine with, to chat with. So please, don''t call me ''Your Highness,'' Aiwass."


    "Then may I call you Isabel?"


    Aiwass asked directly without any pretense.


    "...Actually, you could also call me Senior Isabel,"


    Isabel said in a low voice.


    When she heard Aiwass calling Hayna ''Senior Hayna'', she felt as if a title had been stolen from her. After all, she was also a second-year student, and to Aiwass, she was a senior too...


    "That doesn''t seem much different from ''Your Highness,''"


    Aiwass, with a smile, declined Isabel''s suggestion, "I''ll just call you Isabel."


    "...Then, may I call you ''Mr. Aiwass''?" Read exclusive content at mvl


    She smiled a bit yfully, seeming a little more cheerful, "I just heard your ssmates call you that. Is it your nickname?"


    As she spoke, Isabel continued walking in the direction of the canteen, and Lily followed in step.


    "Sort of. But it''s not that I''m a ''teacher''; they''re just teasing me,"


    Aiwass exined with a hint of reluctance, "Because I''m quite interested in history, I''ve studied some on my own. But truthfully, my knowledge isn''t vast, it''s just more obscure. They started ribbing me because Professor Bard wanted to hire me as a teaching assistant."


    He lied rather smoothly, reversing the cause and effect in hisst statement, but this made it sound more natural, and it dimmed the halo around him a bit.


    "A teaching assistant? That''s impressive!"


    Isabel expressed her genuine admiration, "Many third- and fourth-year seniors don''t get that opportunity."


    "It''s only because Professor Bard isn''t good at lecturing, but he is a schr worthy of respect," Aiwass said.


    "It''s a pity..."


    The golden-haired, blue-eyed girl sighed softly with a hint of regret, "I thought that since you hadn''te to school for a few months, maybe you''d have trouble keeping up with the curriculum. In that case, I could''ve helped you catch up on some of the shared sses."


    "You''re that talented, huh. No wonder you''re Aiwass..."


    Isabel''s perception of Aiwass subtly ovepped with that of ''Mr. Fox''; the premonition that ''these two individuals might be the same person'' grew stronger.


    A capricious thought suddenly sprang to her mind.


    Isabel rarely entertained such whimsical notions. Yet ever since she had met Aiwass, these ''unruly'' ideas began to emerge more frequently.


    Like a statue starting to move, a painting beginning to smile. What she once thought immutable, now suddenly broke the convention. As if the mechanically precise routine of her daily life unexpectedly reversed its gears one day, bringing about a change in her entire existence, introducing novelty and a wealth of inspiration.


    Isabel gained a sudden, hazy understanding of the ''Demonic Painting.''


    It was a sensation that Master Yanis had lectured about many times, but she had never quite grasped¡ªa strong confidence in ''breaking tradition,'' a domineering desire to create that ''overwrites the world with personal will''...


    A belief that ''ordinary paper cannot contain me,'' ''static images cannot trap my imagination,'' aiming to project the ''flowing beauty'' of a moment etched in her mindpletely onto the canvas.


    If not for Aiwass, Isabel wondered when she would have had such inspiration...

 Chapter 114: Chapter 73 I Want to Paint a Picture for You_3

    At this moment, she had a clear premonition.


    ¡ªIf she could witness the scene of Aiwass lecturing, perhaps she could create her first Demonic Painting. Read new chapters at mvl


    With that thought, following her instincts and intuition, she tentatively asked, "Aiwass, when is your next lecture?"


    "This time next week, why?"


    "I would like to sit in, may I?"


    Isabel requested.


    ...When Isabel is with acquaintances, is her aggressive desire so strong?


    Aiwass took a rare sharp breath and rapidly tapped his right index, middle, and ring fingers on the armrest of his wheelchair, soothing his slightly disordered thoughts: "There is... no problem. But ''modern history''... you shouldn''t need to study that anymore, right?"


    "It''s actually for the final exam of my sketch ss."


    Isabel firmly replied, and it was not a lie, for she was not adept at falsehoods: "The teacher asked us to paint a portrait. May I have you as my model? I will pay you."


    "There''s no need for payment," Aiwass said softly, "If possible, after the teacher has graded it, could you give that painting to me? After all, no one has ever painted a portrait of me, and this would be the first."


    "Really?"


    Isabel uttered in surprise.


    In her understanding, portraits were quitemonce. Before her teacher arrived, she would leave behind several paintings each year. And since the teacher''s arrival, almost every month she had one.


    From the age of seven until neen, full and half-length portraits of her, as well as group paintings with her family, filled a total of four rooms dedicated solely for their collection in the Hall of Silver and Tin.


    But surely, even if not part of a royal household... the Moriarty Family must be quite wealthy, right?


    "Hasn''t Professor Moriarty ever had a painter create a portrait of you?" Isabel asked, puzzled.


    "Indeed, no."


    Aiwass affirmed: "Not just me, but Yulia, and my brother Edward, even father himself, none of us have had portraits painted. I''ve never even seen any of our ancestors'' paintings at home. I suppose it might be some kind of tradition in the Moriarty Family."


    "I see..."


    But soon, Isabel''s attention was caught by the phrase "the first painting."


    She became serious all at once, her pupils briefly shining with the luster of emerald.


    This was the first time Aiwass had seen Isabel with such a solemn expression.


    It took him a moment to adjust.


    "The first portrait, huh..."


    Isabel nodded, the emerald light in her eyes pulsing like a heartbeat.


    "I understand, Aiwass. I will prepare well," she said.


    This time Aiwass truly saw¡ªunnoticed by Isabel herself, she had just had a moment of resonance with the Path of Beauty.


    ...With a princess harboring a pure "obsession with beauty", won''t she start to rapidly level up now?


    If she, a mere "Prodigy" at the second Energy Level, were to create a Demonic Painting, she could probably advance as early as the middle of next month!


    While Aiwass was advancing on dual paths, in his recollection... even just the Path of Devotion would allow him to advance a bit faster than them both, still waiting for the two.


    ...Is it possible that I might not be able to keep up with her now?


    Aiwass became a little more earnest.


    I''d better start leveling up as well, Mr. Fox cannot be looked down upon.


    He had only made a slight alteration to the plot he was familiar with, almost no impact on the whole world, the era, the political situation... but this little change, when cast upon Isabel, nearlypletely transformed her life.


    Realizing this, Aiwass fell silent for a moment.


    In his heart, he began to grasp a new understanding of the Path of Devotion, his pupils flickering with a golden-red brilliance.


    Simrly, Aiwass did not notice this himself, but Isabel did catch a glimpse of that familiar glimmer in his eyes.


    Just a brief moment, she failed to see it clearly. Hence she only paused a little, without making any remark.


    ...Anyway, let''s wait until after a week.


    When she formally prepares to paint Aiwass, opens her Magic Eye, then she will see clearly.


    Whether his "color" will be that slightly red-tinted golden hue. Closer to fire than to Light, but not scorching, nor burning. Like a sunset that is about to fall, or a sunrise that is about to ascend.


    If indeed Aiwass was Mr. Fox...


    Her heart was tinged withplexity, various emotions swiftly rose and fell. But soon those muddled thoughts again became pure.


    ¡ªIf that were the case, it would be wonderful.


    She thought to herself.

 Chapter 115: Chapter 74: Truly Bewitching the Master with Fox Charm

    Isabel felt some regret.


    This time, she had unusually brought Aiwass and Lily with her... but perhaps because they had arrived a bit early, there weren''t many students in the cafeteria. Most people didn''t even notice that the princess had arrived.


    And even among the few students who saw them, they only gave them a curious nce.


    At most, some pointed at them from a distance with a bit of surprise, chatting briefly with their friends.


    No one had a particrlyrge reaction, and no one came over to chat with either herself or Aiwass.


    It waspletely different from thest time.


    This time, Isabel had secretly prepared in her heart answers for all kinds of questions in advance. In the end, she didn''t use any of them.


    Until they had finished eating and left, not even one person sat beside them or struck up a conversation.


    That left Isabel somewhat dazed for a moment.


    "...Is it really that simple?"


    "It has always been uplicated."


    Aiwass, feeling a bit sleepy after eating, squinted his eyes andy on the wheelchair, basking in the sun, and answered in a light, tired voice: "You''re just scaring yourself.


    "Plus, there''s apletely different situation when someone approaches you when you are alone versus when you have someone with you. And even if someone does ask, you can simply choose to ignore them.


    "Think about it¡ªif amoner sent a letter to Her Majesty the Queen, would the Queen respond?"


    "...Grandmother seems like she actually would,"


    Isabel said softly.


    Aiwass was a bit surprised and sat up, opening his eyes to look at Isabel: "Really?"


    Isn''t that olddy too busy then? How many letters does she have to reply to regrly?


    Isabel quickly added, "But she doesn''t respond to all the letters..."


    "Ah, that''s the same thing."


    Aiwass continued, "Just think of those who strike up a conversation as letters the Queen doesn''t wish to reply to. If the Queen responded to all letters, then she wouldn''t get anything done. She would receive an endless stream of letters... Wouldn''t that make the Queen a letter-replying machine?"


    Isabel thought that made sense as well.


    But she was still unsure: "Should I kindly advise them with politeness or rebuke them outright?"


    "That depends on whether you sense goodwill or malice from that person. If it''s goodwill, just answer his questions frankly and directly, don''t be afraid. Saying the wrong thing won''t kill you,"


    Aiwass added thoughtfully: "Of course, even if the other party has no ill intentions, if you can''t reason with them or simply dislike them, you can rebuke them outright.


    "Even if you don''t have the adaptability to the Path of Authority, would he dare to have the adaptability to transcendence?


    "So you see, from the beginning, you didn''t need to have the Force of Authority. The rules of Avalon are already established; you just need to follow them. In the end, you are a princess; whoever disrespects you is disrespecting the Royal Family. Would those rude individuals dare to be more arrogant than the ministers?"


    He coaxed like a fox, "You need to learn to be a bit more capricious, Isabel. The Queen will be pleased with that. Even if those on the Path of Authority wish to recognize and assist you, you must give them a target, right? If you don''t let them do anything, naturally they will feel lost.


    "They are not afraid to tter you; they are afraid of not knowing what you wish to be ttered about."


    "...I think I understand," Isabel mused for a long time, "but I''m still not quite sure. I don''t know what degree of ''capriciousness'' is appropriate, what degree would annoy people, and what would make them hate you."


    "These things, you''ll understand with experience," Aiwass casually replied.


    "Can Ie and ask you then?"


    Isabel suddenly said, "You decide for me how I should treat them. I believe you won''t deceive me."


    ¡­Hmm?


    Aiwass paused.


    Upon hearing this, he suddenly thought of Sherlock''s evaluation of him at thest progression ceremony.


    ¡ªSeducing the master with fox-like charm.


    Well, I''m not actually going to seduce the master, am I?


    It feels as if I am some sort of powerful courtier or eunuch...


    Isabel''s excessive trust in him even made Aiwass feel a bit soft-hearted, almost sorry to deceive her further.


    Experience tales with mvl


    At the same time, he was somewhat afraid...


    After all, his lies were not few. Whether it''s the identity of Mr. Fox or the adaptability to Transcendence, he might not cease lying in the future.


    If she believed in his honesty, and his lies were exposed...


    Aiwass''s expression was subtle, a mix of kindness and guilt as he reminded her, "It''s best not to say things like ''only you wouldn''t deceive me,'' which can add pressure to people. Plus, you should never 100% trust anyone.


    "Maybe I have also deceived you. I do like to lie¡ªrather, a lie is my tool. Sometimes, it can be as sharp as the truth.


    "Remember, never trust anyone absolutely. Always keep your deepest secrets to yourself."


    Aiwass''s words were filled with sincerity.


    But Isabel clearly felt Aiwass''s goodwill and sincerity,pletelycking the sense of "his enjoyment of lying." Yet if his words were true, then he indeed was a master of deceit...


    It was like some sort of mathematical paradox...


    The strange sense of contradiction left Isabel feeling somewhat confused and unsure of what to do.


    Yet, the vague spection in Isabel''s heart became increasingly real.


    ...It really seemed like Mr. Fox.


    When she was dreaming... as he held her hand, pointing to the terrible half-faced corpse hanging in Execution Square, Isabel felt this sensation.


    He had an enviable freedom and an easy-going nature, as well as a bad side that wasn''t really hateful.


    ¡ªDangerous but not lethal, and even beneficial to one''s health.


    Isabel had never felt this strange sensation with anyone else.


    Thus, a somewhat impulsive idea suddenly surfaced in her mind.


    If Aiwass told me not to trust him, then I''m going to do just the opposite¡ªI''ll trust him.


    This wasn''t a little girl''s rebellion¡ªit was a realization that suddenly came to her.


    Were those ministers truly absolutely loyal to Grandma? Did they never lie?


    Of course not.


    Isabel had heard too many lies and seen too many filthy betrayals and conspiracies from her childhood. Maybe other girls of the Royal Capital would obsess over the purity of friendships, but to her, such trifles no longer mattered.


    She could feel that Aiwass''s heart was kind, and she was sure that what he did ultimately was for her benefit.


    ¡ªSince both the "motive" and the "action" were good, that was enough. The rest was Aiwass''s secret, and she wouldn''t pry.


    After all, she had her own little secrets!


    She hoped no one would discover them. She would even lie to keep them hidden from those close to her.


    ...like the existence of "Mr. Fox," for instance.


    With this thought, Isabel''s lips curved into a slight smile, and her mood visibly lightened.


    The group quickly returned to No. 14 Roning Street.


    Before Lily could open the door, Isabel stopped her.


    "Wait, let me do it!"


    Isabel shed a triumphant smile, took out the key from her bosom, and spun it nimbly on her right index finger while humming a tune and briskly walking past the two to the front.


    "...You really did keep a copy of the key," Aiwass said without surprise.


    Her deliberate disy with the key appeared almost like a boast.


    "After all, this is my house," Isabel opened the door and said with a grin, "Maybe one night I''ll suddenly attack to see if you and Miss Lily have been up to no good."


    As if exining something, she added, "I mean to see if you''ve dirtied my bed or something like that!"


    Aiwass raised an eyebrow but didn''t respond, simply flicking his fingers unconsciously on the armrest of his wheelchair.


    ¡ªShe obviously remembered what Master Yanis had said before.


    But Lily noticed a detail: "Your Highness''s bed?"


    "...Ah, I haven''t actually slept here; it''s a clean bed," Isabel quickly exined to Lily in a low voice, "It just belongs to me in name..."


    As a Transcendent of the Path of Beauty, Isabel was certainly somewhat of an aesthete.


    Isabel always felt that Aiwass''s personal maid seemed a bit like her¡ªat least they shared a sense of politeness, silence, and restraint. She felt they might be kindred spirits, so she was quite fond of the gentle and beautiful Lily and didn''t want thetter to have any misunderstandings about her.


    But Isabel actually thought Lily was quite impressive.


    Despite often standing quietly behind Aiwass like a shadow... she could still divert her attention to everything around her. When Aiwass wanted to stop or move, he didn''t even have to tell her specifically what to do; Lily understood his intentions directly and executed them withposure.


    Lily was beautiful, whether it was her figure, her physique, or her appearance, and no different from girls from the Knight Family. Yet when standing behind Aiwass, it was easy not to notice her.


    It was almost as if the wheelchair moved on its own.


    This made Isabel envious.


    What shecked most was the ability to gauge the situation¡ªknowing what she should do was the hardest part for her.


    From this perspective, she quite envied Lily.


    Isabel deftly turned on the record yer in the living room, leaving Aiwass in the living room to listen to music since it was inconvenient for him to move. Then she took Lily on a tour of the entire residence under the pretext of "showing you around the dorm."


    While the University of Law was in the Red Queen District, not all buildings were red¡ªfor example, the exterior walls of this vi were silver-white, evoking the Hall of Silver and Tin.


    The overall color scheme of the vi was champagne, matched with light brown furniture and light gray floor tiles, while the bedroom featured brown tiles and wood-colored furniture. From the second floor upward, there were transparent floor-to-ceiling windows. These types of windows were almost a must for significant figures in Avalon, mainly for the convenience of Gryphon transport.


    The two youngdies chatted as they walked through this three-story vi, spanning over 140 square meters with a total of twenty-two rooms. From time to time, their silvery, bell-likeughter could be heard in the distance.


    Meanwhile, Aiwass closed his eyes, tranquilly lying in his wheelchair and resting while listening to the melodious music, quickly slipping into sleep.

 Chapter 116: Chapter 75 My Words Heal Quite Fast

    And during her chat with Lily, Princess Isabel quickly inquired about the original surname of this maid with xen curly hair.


    Of course, this was also because Lily did not choose to hide it.


    "¡ªDrost?"


    Upon hearing this, Princess Isabel furrowed her brows slightly, "He actually did such a thing?"


    She sounded slightly angry when she heard it.


    Because until that point, her impression of Minister Drost had always been quite good. She even thought he was one of the rare good men among the ministers.


    ¡ªCharles Drost. This name belongs to the kingdom''s Minister of Commerce.


    Although he appeared old and fat, he was a patient and polite old man.


    He alwaysughed heartily and was very capable in his work. Most importantly, he was very respectful and loyal to the Queen. Even when facing Isabel, who was more timorous than she is now, the old man never looked down on her and alwaysmunicated with her on equal footing.


    At least when Her Majesty, the Queen,ined about the ministers being inept at their jobs or disloyal to the kingdom, the surname Drost seldom came out of her mouth.


    This old knight was married and had children. Even now, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were already attending university.


    At such an old age, he was still fooling around with prostitutes and even left behind a child not much older than his own grandchildren.


    Isabel even had a ssmate of the same age as Drost''s great-granddaughter.


    She was neen years old and in her second year.


    And Miss Lily was twenty-six this year, in her first year.


    But in terms of rtionship, Lily was actually her aunt.


    Even when the mother with her child came knocking on his door, the old Drost simply handed over his fourteen-year-old illegitimate daughter to someone else to be a personal maid.


    ording to Mrs. Yanis, personal maids are generally used to¡­


    Isabel, of course, knew that Lily was innocent.


    But for this very reason, she couldn''t help but frown at that old knight who alwaysughed heartily and quietly remembered his name.


    While Isabel was frowning, Lily realized for the first time that this princess actually possessed a certain dignity.


    After Isabel put on a stern face, this girl, who seemed as shy and quiet as Miss Julia, actually revealed a faint sense of authority¡­


    The girls chatted while they strolled around the vi.


    After they had done a round and went downstairs, they saw Aiwass, who was quietly sleeping beside the record yer.


    Your next chapter awaits on mvl


    Aiwass, curled up in the wheelchair and sleeping, made Isabel subconsciously hold her breath.


    Lily walked over on tiptoes, wanting to cover Aiwass with a nket, but as soon as she got close, Aiwass suddenly opened his eyes quietly.


    "I''m not asleep."


    He said softly, with a slightly hoarse voice.


    Liar, you''ve just woken up.


    Isabel thought.


    But she quickly realized something else:


    Aiwass''s sleep¡­ was it that light? Lily hadn''t made a sound, but he was aware of her approach.


    Just then, the electronic doorbell at the vi''s entrance was pressed.


    Isabel instinctively wanted to go open the door, but was immediately stopped by Lily''s voice, "I''ll go, Your Highness."


    She opened the door and found it was Haynaing to call Aiwass for ss.


    Hayna peeked in from the doorway, her eyes filled with amazement and envy.


    And at this moment, Isabel realized it was already two o''clock. She quickly said goodbye to Aiwass and Lily, and to Senior Hayna as well, and then hurried back to the sixth division¡ªshe had yet to ask for leave for her afternoon ss.


    Lily, with a clean towel, gently wiped Aiwass''s face as he sat immobile in his wheelchair.


    Then she took him, following Senior Hayna to the afternoon ssroom.


    The afternoon ss was anguage ss, and the subject was Elvish Language. The textbook used was "Chedler''s Poetry Collection Eighty Selections."


    When she saw it, Hayna couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    ¡ªBecause that book was the one Aiwass wanted to throw into the firece the first time she met him, which she had stopped with her hand. It was filled with key points and difficulties that Aiwass had marked while self-studying.


    Thinking back to that scene, Hayna suddenly understood¡­ why Aiwass was so well-versed with the history of Star Antimony Kingdom''s founding and the wars of the Transcendent of the empire that very morning.


    Aiwass truly loved to study. There must have been some unspeakable reasons why he couldn''te to school two months ago...


    Back then, he must have acted sulky on purpose because she was two hourste, which probably upset him a bit, Hayna thought to herself.


    After all, Aiwass, no matter what, was still a young man.


    ```


    Getting a little temperamental is only normal... in the end, it was my own fault to begin with.


    Thinking of this, Hayna shook her head helplessly.


    Once again, she reminded herself in her heart.


    ¡ª¡ªI must not bete next time.


    She had always been oblivious to the concept of time. Beforeing to the Royal Capital, her ssmates said she was a child cursed by the hourss.


    But actually, Hayna felt that it was more of a blessing than a curse. She had just failed to use it properly.


    Back then, when Hayna would read a book, she could do so for an entire afternoon; or she might unwittingly spend hours practicing with a sword or running. Time seemed to slip away particrly easily around her. She had no sense of it, she did not get tired because of it, she would not ck off or get distracted.


    In her first year of university, she thought she was clever enough to just get by with casual studying, which almost led to her failing; but once she started to take it seriously, her grades shot up instantly. What she relied on was this uncanny ability to learn at a super-efficient pace, as if "skipping the process" entirely.


    This also gave Hayna a good measure of her own level.


    She wasn''t actually smart, she was just good at learning.


    That''s why she was no longer arrogant. To her, those ssmates who barely studied and indulged in fun and games every day, yet maintained their grades effortlessly, were much smarter than her.


    After leaving university, it became difficult for her to study. She no longer had such a conducive environment.


    But those ssmates of hers were still able to quickly adapt to new environments with their intelligence and inspiration¡ªthis clearly showed that her own level was not as outstanding as her grades suggested.


    Hayna arrived at the ssroom half an hour early with Aiwass. Elvish Language was a public course as well, so it used the universally applied amphitheater-style ssroom of the academy.


    Hayna waited until the lecturer arrived before she softly introduced Aiwass''s situation to the Elven Lecturer and then left.


    Aiwass''s proficiency in Elvish was not high, so he paid attention during the lesson. He didn''t cause any trouble, and the Elven Lecturer, who spoke in Elvish almost all the time, did not specifically ask Aiwass to stand and answer questions.


    She simply fluttered about in front of the ckboard like a butterfly, constantly writing and drawing, detailing those extremelyplicated grammatical rules. She led the students in reciting Elvish verses, repeatedly practicing that light, airy pronunciation as if speaking poetry, and continuously corrected the pronunciation of students who made errors.


    Although this Elven instructor was merely a lecturer and ranked at the lowest level in Avalon''s teaching hierarchy, equivalent to a recent doctoral graduate who remained at the school... her teaching ability turned out to be surprisingly good.


    In less than two hours of ss, Aiwass felt that his proficiency had improved significantly. Comparing it to his memories of self-studying Elvish before, he instantly realized... this was the enhancement to learning abilities after stepping into transcendence!


    To be precise, it was the power of the Path of Devotion that had strengthened parts of his body and soul.


    His logical thinking and imagination had not improved significantly... but at least in terms of memory, Aiwass felt a very obvious difference.


    Next, there was the speed of his body''s recovery. If it had been the old Aiwass, sitting motionless in a wheelchair all day would certainly have made him feel difort in his joints and fatigue in his muscles.


    But now, he found it remarkably easy. He even had the faint sensation that even if he continued sitting still like this without using the Fire Rite Skill to recuperate, his physical condition would not decline at all.


    Although Aiwass''s panel did not disy his basic attributes, he definitely felt the enhancement.


    After ss, Aiwass chatted leisurely with Aiden and others on the way, as per their earlier arrangement, and headed to the White Ballet Shoes Club.


    The White Ballet Shoes Club was located in the sixth college. By the time Aiwass made his way there, Princess Isabel had already been anxiously waiting at the entrance for a long time.


    She couldn''t pretend to pass the time by watching the yground outside, like she had when waiting outside Aiwass''s ssroom previously.


    There was nothing at the entrance of the White Ballet Shoes Club. There was only a bicycle shop, a musical instrument shop, and a store selling cigars and tobo. Next to the club was a shop selling handmade sterling silver mechanical pencils and a bar.


    There was nothing suitable for her to look at.


    So Isabel simply stood at the entrance, looking very much like she was waiting for someone.


    When Aiwass arrived, Isabel was handling inquiries from a senior who hade out of the club.


    The senior obviously knew Isabel''s identity. He was solemn with a dignified expression and a humble attitude.


    He could have almost said, "Please don''t hold it against me, it''s not my fault."


    It was clear at a nce that he had lost a bet and had been pushed forward by his friends.


    What surprised Aiwass was that this time, Isabel''s manner of speaking with strangers had visibly be much smoother.


    Although she seemed somewhat nervous, she was fully capable of clearly expressing her thoughts. She wasn''t shrinking back or overly polite as before.


    Only, she was a bit reticent... she responded with a word or two to every couple of sentences from the other party, which made her appear somewhat aloof. Aside from that, she was nearly back to normal.


    Aiwass gave a low hiss.


    ...Can my words have such a quick effect?


    Can social anxiety really improve this fast? Effective in half a day?


    He thought back to Isabel inadvertently revealing her aggressive side, and how their privatemunications seemed quite normal, not differing from the average person...


    It seemed the only difference was that Isabel''s mood had be notably better.


    Aiwass suddenly realized.


    ¡ª¡ªThis Avalon princess wasn''t actually socially anxious... she was simplycking in social experience,bined with the immense pressure that made her withdraw into herself!


    No wonder she didn''t show too much hatred after the fall of Avalon. It wasn''t that she had matured and kept her emotions suppressed, refraining from showing them to others...


    It turns out she really didn''t want to be a princess!

 Chapter 117: Chapter 76 Arlen Carter

    "...I know you''re here waiting for someone, I mean... Is the person you''re waiting for also a member of the club? Our club operates on an invite-only basis."


    The curly-haired young man, dressed in a white suit and with an artistic air, asked with a pained expression as he stood in front of Isabel, "If not, could you possibly wait on the opposite side...?"


    The princess who usually did not interact with anyone was now standing seriously at the entrance of the White Ballet Shoes Club...


    This posture did not really seem like she was waiting for someone; it was more like she was there to block someone''s path.


    Students passing by gathered nearby, or watched the spectacle from the club''s hall; even the alumni were a bit more tense, some didn''t dare to enter and instead lingered around the vicinity.


    But the question posed by the curly-haired man seemed to have stumped Isabel.


    The person she was waiting for indeed was not a member of the club, but she was actually nning to join the White Ballet Shoes Club now.


    ¡ª Generally speaking, she knew her sponsor was supposed to be that underssman with long blue hair and taller than herself. The problem was, Isabel did not know her name.


    Thus, she merely pursed her lips, seriously considering how she should respond.


    ...Should she start from the beginning?


    What a hassle.


    Isabel was silent for a while, then she gave a firm answer, "It''s one of your members."


    At this, the curly-haired young man was somewhat surprised.


    Someone actually dared to invite this princess?


    Just as the curly-haired young man was about to ask for the name of that person, and was thinking of inviting Isabel in to sit down, a voice from the other side reached them¡ª a voice he had never heard before:


    "We''re here, Isabel."


    The curly-haired young man turned his head and saw an unexpected person.


    Wasn''t that Aiwass Moriarty, the well-known yboy from Du Lac Middle School?


    After he graduated, he had disappeared, only to recently solve a big case that got him on the front page of the ss Staircase Daily. But his leg seemed to be broken, there were rumors that it was because he was two-timing and got his leg broken by his girlfriend''s brother... Others said that he went abroad for a cricket match, and his leg was broken by foul y from his opponent.


    ...When did he return to school? And he even went to Theological Seminary...


    Howe there was no buzz about it?


    Moreover, how did he get involved with that strange princess?


    "Aiwass!"


    Upon hearing Aiwass''s voice, Isabel''s eyes lit up.


    She didn''t wait at the door anymore, but instead hurriedly scurried over.


    The curly-haired waspletely bbergasted.


    ¡ª Were they already so close that they could call each other by name?!


    It was only then that the curly-haired young man realized something else.


    That was, the five or six people that Aiwass had brought with him were all formal members of the White Ballet Shoes Club. And yet, they seemed to revolve around Aiwass as if he were their center.


    At this moment, the girl with the blue hair who was by Aiwass''s side, came forward with a smile and greeted them.


    Her appearance was generous, her smile was bright, and dimples appeared on her face when sheughed. She exuded a vibrant aura.


    "Senior Sisyphean, the princess is here at my invitation!"


    "Ang..."


    The curly-haired young man was at a loss for words.


    He shook his head, deciding not to provoke this matter.


    Instead, he went straight to asking, "This must be Aiwass, your ssmate, right? Is he also a neer invited by you guys?"


    "Aiwass and Miss Lily both are, Senior," Aiden, who was next to Aiwass, replied, "I invited Aiwass, and Miss Lily was invited by him."


    Speaking, he pointed to another ssmate nearby.


    Aiden then added, "Actually, Princess Isabel also came with Aiwass. Strictly speaking, the princess''s invitee is Aiwass."


    "Actually, I''m just a nameholder, haha!"


    Ang exined with augh.


    Sisyphean finally let out a sigh of relief.


    He hurriedly opened the door and let the whole group in. He didn''t bother to check their invitation credentials¡ªbetter to let people in first than have a circus at the door.


    After leading everyone inside, he immediately closed the door, keeping the prying eyes of onlookers outside.


    As expected, the news that "Princess Isabel was invited to join the White Ballet Shoes Club" would spread after today.


    Upon entering, they heard the faint strains of music flowing toward them.


    Isabel followed closely beside Aiwass, looking around curiously.


    But to her disappointment, the ce was much smaller than she had imagined, and it wasn''t asvish.


    The inside of the White Ballet Shoes Club resembled a restaurant with a bar that served cocktails.


    Directly in front was a spacious hall. At the forefront stood a stagerge enough for an opera or dance troupe to perform, and it could also amodate more than a dozen couples dancing. In a corner of the stage were instruments covered with cloth.


    At this moment, an elderly man with white hair stood alone on the stage, ying the violin with his eyes closed, while behind him, hidden by the backdrop, a handsome young man yed the piano intently.


    To one side was a long bar, and on the other side were the stairs and restrooms. asionally, one could see young students carrying trays of drinks and tea, heading upstairs¡ªworking in the club also came with a paycheck.


    Beyond that were only more sofas, chairs, and round tables.


    The second floor was an open-n space with protruding balconies,plete with silver handrails. At the moment, scattered individuals leaned on the balustrades, whispering among themselves.


    On the second floor, there were several semi-private rooms with their contents dimly visible from the first floor. Some rooms had drawn curtains resembling cloth drapes. Obviously, soundproofing was not a concern with this setup, and neither was privacy, as it seemed individuals in the rooms probably couldn''t see the performances.


    But precisely because of theck of soundproofing, they could hear what was happening¡ªalthough from a performance-viewing perspective, it was clear that the first floor offered a better experience.


    The students who had escorted Aiwass and the others inside were greeted by acquaintances as soon as they entered or went to join friends already seated. Only those acting as guarantors still followed closely behind, approaching a young man seated behind the bar.


    He had bright blond hair and eyes that appeared as deep and mncholic as those of a poet. He was strikingly handsome, with well-defined facial features and half-length ears which only a half-elf would possess. However, his cheeks were slightly thin and longer than usual, giving him somewhat a horse-like appearance.


    He wasn''t a bartender, simply a patron lounging behind the bartender, contentedly serving himself drinks.


    When he caught sight of Aiwass and Isabel from a distance, a look of mild surprise appeared on his face.


    He stood up immediately, his tall, slender frame rising swiftly from behind the bar as he straightened his tie with a serious motion. His back was ramrod straight, his height reaching over one-ny. His quiet, quick movements revealed his excellent control over his body.


    "Senior Arlen."


    The few people behind Aiwass greeted him politely, clearly indicating that they had invited others.


    After exchanging greetings, Aiden whispered to Aiwass, "That is Arlen Carter, the top male student of the junior year. He is also the current president of the White Ballet Shoes Club."


    Then, he introduced Aiwass to Arlen, saying, "This is... "


    "I know him, Aiden. Thank you."


    Arlen''s voice, as soft as his image, was deep and distinctly bubbly, carrying the aura of an elven poet.


    He ced his right hand over his chest, bowing slightly towards Isabel, "Princess Isabel, it''s a great honor for you to join the White Ballet Shoes Club."


    Following that, Arlen turned to Aiwass with a smile, nodding amicably, "Mr. Aiwass Moriarty, it is also a great honor to see you here."


    Aiwass raised an eyebrow.


    He had an impression of this man... whether it was from the game or from memory.


    He was the third son of a certain minister, a half-elf. He was also the faction leader and reputation vendor for the "White Ballet Shoes Club", the organization in version 1.0 of the game.


    Aiwass''s memories of him mainly lingered on his mncholic temperament and exceptionally long face, as well as his memorable death.


    During the event known as the "Cruel Autumn", when the Star Antimony people invaded, Arlen made a valiant but ineffectual Resistance¡ª


    He had ridden his Gryphon to cover for the yers, Aiwass, and Isabel as they retreated. He cast a series of Law Magics at the golem with impressive light effects, but it was clear he didn''t deal a hint of damage, nor did he manage to distract the golem for even a moment.


    Then, swatted by the thirty-meter-tall golem, he was struck from the sky with a single p.


    ... Although it was clear that he was brave, the string of zeros and the word "Immune" repeatedly disyed made it difficult to keep a straight face.


    Ultimately, he did waste one of the golem''s attack opportunities with his life. From the oue, his actions had been critical in providing cover... the main characters were just a stroke away from being squashed by the golem.


    Indeed, it was Arlen''s face that barely averted the final attack.


    At least when facing an inevitable defeat, Arlen didn''t surrender to the Star Antimony people like other offspring from the Knight Families; instead, he fought like a true, ancient Knight until the end.


    Aiwass''s impression of him was that he was ''a good person, quite loyal, and very brave, but a little weak.''


    Or to put it another way, quite too weak.


    Explore stories on mvl


    Because Arlen had no interest in the Transcendent path but was focused on cultural studies and political aspirations, his level wasn''t very high. Even among his peers at the same level of graduation, he was considered quite weak. yers didn''t know how he managed to graduate early and obtain his own Gryphon, suggesting that he had used his father''s influence to do so.


    He became the top male student of his cohort simply because his grades were truly excellent. Arlen had a natural gift for linguistics and a deep understanding of thew. If nothing had gone awry, he might have be awyer or a judge in the future.


    Looking back now, Hayna must have set this precedent.


    She was the first to obtain a Gryphon in her senior year, theoretically graduating early but still studying at school¡ªa ssic example.


    ¡ªAlthough Hayna never appeared in the game, likely dying out of the yers'' sight early on, her influence on others remained subtly preserved.

 Chapter 118: Chapter 77: The Body in the Club

    After greeting and shaking hands with Aiwass, Arlen turned his attention to Lily, who stood behind Aiwass: "I presume thisdy must be Miss Lily? Are you also joining our club?"


    "¡­Eh?"


    Lily gave a small utterance of surprise, not quite understanding. Nheless, she politely returned Arlen''s gesture with a curtsy.


    Aiwass suddenly realized why Arlen was being so polite to him and Lily.


    To confirm his thoughts, Aiwass asked on her behalf, "Do you know Lily as well?"


    "Of course. The matter of Princess Isabel entertaining the two of youst night, I believe, has already spread throughout the entire Royal Capital."


    The corners of Arlen''s mouth rarely curved upward, but he disyed a faint, albeit not-so-obvious smile on his otherwise stern face: "I remember that banquet was attended by Master Yanis¡­ After which, the Princess handed over the keys to 14 Roning Street to you."


    He apparently smiled so seldom that his rare attempt seemed unusually stiff, making his otherwise handsome face look exaggerated and somewhatical at this moment.


    Lily couldn''t help but think of the old butler Oswald¡ªhis smile was just as rigid and terrifying¡ªso she involuntarily raised the edges of her mouth. Had she not pursed her lips, she would haveughed out loud.


    Ang, on hearing this, looked at Aiwass with surprise, then turned her gaze to Isabel.


    It was as if she suddenly came to a realization, having an epiphany.


    Ang reached out and gently pulled at Aiden''s sleeve. After being tugged twice, Aiden finally reacted, but he hesitated for a moment as he nced at Aiwass before silently shaking his head at her.


    The blue-haired girl red at him in frustration, and tugged at his sleeve again. Yet, Aiden remained unresponsive.


    Anyway, they had already told President Arlen that they were the ones who introduced them¡­


    Thinking so, Ang simply took the other person and left ahead of time. She couldn''t wait to share the juicy gossip she had just heard with her ssmates¡ªno wonder Princess Isabel came to find Aiwass specifically!


    Only Aiden was left waiting on the spot, somewhat out of step with the social atmosphere of the group, because only he indeed had something for which he needed Aiwass''s help.


    Isabel, who had been pondering deeply to the side, finally remembered Arlen''s identity: "I''ve seen you before¡­ you are Carter''s son."


    "Yes, Your Highness," Arlen responded, somewhat surprised that Isabel recognized him, but he replied respectfully: "Thest time I saw you was about ten years ago. Your memory is still as outstanding as ever."


    "Thank you for yourpliment, Mr. Arlen."


    Isabel also used "Mr." to address his status.


    She then leaned in and whispered to Aiwass, "He is the Minister of Justice''s son, he should know about us¡­ and the painting."


    No wonder he knew both me and Lily, and no wonder he addressed me as "Mr." instead of "ssmate," Aiwass thought.


    Or perhaps, Arlen didn''t actually recognize Lily the person. But he knew that the personal maid Aiwass brought to the royal banquet was named Lily.


    ¡­But then again, our rtionship isn''t really shameful, is it? There''s no need to whisper so quietly¡­


    While they were whispering, President Arlen directly opened a drawer and handed out three badges, cing them on the countertop. He didn''t make direct contact with Aiwass and the others but kept a distance.


    "The membership papers for the three of you will be handledter. There''s also no rush for the membership fees, I will send you the invoice along with the member''s booklet to your residenceter. Please feel free to find a seat."


    Arlen smiled, disying a friendly smile, and said smoothly, "If you want something to drink, you can order it here. We will have someone bring it over shortly¡ªhere is the drink menu, and here is the snack menu. There are also copies on the tables and in the private rooms on the second floor, and if you have any new requests, you can mention them to the students delivering the meals. These items are free, included in the annual membership fee. Please help yourself to anything, don''t be shy."


    "Also, if you see any advertisements or flyers on the tables, please don''t mind them. We don''t prohibit members from personal promotions."


    This weak and powerless Half-Elf President clearly had a good sense of propriety.


    His style was decisively different from that of Hayna, who was also a leader.


    He knew that Aiwass and Isabel''s sudden addition to the White Ballet Shoes Club must have been at someone''s invitation or for a specific purpose. Therefore, Arlen didn''te over to ingratiate himself or inquire about their business.


    Instead, he tried to save their time by nning to skip all unnecessary procedures as a gesture of goodwill, and he didn''t pry into their reasons for being there, thereby maintaining afortable and safe social distance.


    Such a way of handling things indeed made people feel more at ease. Even Isabel, who was exceptionally sensitive, didn''t react strongly due to this.


    Isabel walked over, picked up the three badges from the table, and handed them to Aiwass and Lily respectively.


    Arlen exined, "These badges are proof of our membership. You can wear them when youe here and no one will stop you. They are also a piece of Extraordinary Equipment that can prevent you from getting hurt or dirtying your clothes if you identally slip and fall."


    The badge looked pretty; it was made of white crystal.


    It was a sleek and tall inverted isosceles triangle resembling an elongated and somewhat rectangr inverted teardrop. On its surface were shallow, crisscrossing indentations like a.


    It looked a bit like the marks seared onto a steak.


    ¡­So we just received the official member badges, huh?


    Pretty cool.


    Aiwass unassumingly epted it.


    Suddenly, a screen of light emerged before him:


    [Crystal Ballet Shoes]


    [Extraordinary essory (Blue)]


    [essories - Badge]


    [Spell: Regain Composure (Once per day, 1/1)]


    [Requirement: Any 1]


    [Instantaneous, Touch, Immediate Effect]


    ["¡ª¡ªI might save you once when you asionally stumble, but if you fall, there''s nothing I can do."]


    Although the spell was of little significance to Aiwass, who was now wheelchair racing every day, it was a good thing for both Lily and Isabel.


    In the game, it was the essory for the "badge" slot that yers could most easily obtain during the early quest sequences.


    Badge-slot equipment was extremely rare and typically served as proof of membership in a Transcendent organization.


    Compared to rings, nes, and bracelets, badges had one major drawback¡ªthey did not directly touch the skin.


    This meant that the wearer had to touch the badge with their fingers to activate the stored spell, which was much more troublesome than using a ring.


    Because it wasn''t convenient to channel mana into it, a badge could usually only store a small amount of mana points, just enough for an instant charge to release the spell. And with such a design constraint, the effect was bound to beckluster.


    The main significance of theseplicated, costly, and weakly effective extraordinary equipmentsy in the increased cost they imposed on those who might attempt to counterfeit them.


    Not all badges that served as organizational proof of membership were designed to be worn openly. For example, the Noble Red Society''s symbol was a more concealed, practical, and user-friendly ring.


    Under the influence of the Path of Bnce, only one of each type of equipment could be worn at a time. Therefore, a practical badge was even rarer.


    Organizations like the White Ballet Shoes Club required yers to raise their reputation to Friendly to unlock the reputation shop to buy it. Many yers, even at levels thirty or forty, could only use the "Crystal Ballet Shoes."


    That''s because the badges that dropped in dungeons were usually even less useful than this one.


    The "Regain Composure" spell was a rudimentary Law Magic from the Path of Authority and was a very practical low-level spell, the kind that was almost a pity to give to a Legal Mage. Its effect was to immediately dispel external forces and recover bnce in states of imbnce, staggering, or falling, enabling the wearer to quickly regain normal posture.


    For instance, it could save your life or even turn the tables in the moment you are thrown over someone''s shoulder, step on something slippery, or lose bnce from a failed block.


    It was a very ssic and practical free anti-control equipment in the MMO, although it could only dispel soft control.


    The message attached to this badge was also quite meaningful.


    It seemed to speak about the equipment... but also hinted at the nature of the White Ballet Shoes Club itself.


    The club looked like an alumni association, but in reality it was a political association with a rather loose structure.


    If you caused a bit of trouble, everyone could help you out conveniently and share some resources; but if a major issue urred, the club would definitely not help you.


    ¡ª¡ªThey issued this disimer when you joined.


    Seeing Aiwass, Arlen, and Hayna finallyplete the process and sessfully join the club, Aiden breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Pleasee with me, Aiwass... it''s a favor!"


    He earnestly pleaded with his hands sped together, "She should be on the second floor... Just like we talked about on the way here, please help me exin! Thank you, Aiwass! I won''t lie to you, I forgot everything you told me this morning after the afternoon sses!"


    Aiden had already exined what had happened on his end while they were rushing over after ss.


    Although his ssmates unanimously ridiculed him for his desperate request for outside help, they also blessed him for "finally finding someone he liked."


    Isabel was also hesitant because she wanted to go with Aiwass as well, but she wasn''t sure if she would be a nuisance.


    Taking a princess who might die at any moment to meet a stranger she had never seen before was admittedly a lot of pressure.


    "You better stay here," Aiwass said gently, "I''ll help Aiden with his love troubles first..."


    Mainly, he wanted to see what kind of troublesome woman Aiden had gotten involved with this time, whether it was the one he remembered.


    Explore stories at §Þ??


    Isabel also breathed a sigh of relief and agreed.


    Interacting with strangers was quite difficult for her too.


    But just as they were preparing to go their separate ways for a while, the exmations of the crowd and the sudden halt of a violin''s music abruptly interrupted their conversation, making them all look over at once.


    They saw someone struggling and falling from beside the railing on the second floor.


    It wasn''t a student close in age to Aiwass and the others, but rather a middle-aged man holding documents, wearing gold-rimmed sses, and with a partially bald head.


    The man fell heavily, but didn''t cry out. His body made a dull noise upon hitting the ground, and the papers in his hands scattered like snowkes.


    Though it was only the second floor, the man only made a soft moan, convulsed violently a few times, and theny still. ck blood slowly spilled from his mouth and nose, and a small, very thin, dark golden dagger was embedded in his back.


    That thing looked more like a needle than a dagger. It was about the size of the file on a nail clipper and did not even have a handle.


    It effortlessly pierced through the clothes and inserted into the back of the dead middle-aged man.


    Aiwass frowned and quickly looked up to the second floor, but he saw no one suspicious.


    Something was off.


    This was a plot development that had never appeared in his memories from a previous life.


    And the key question was... what had Aiwass done to cause the storyline here to change?

 Chapter 119: Chapter 78 You can do as you see fit, sir.

    As the faller had just crashed down, two young Priests in their twenties and thirties immediately rushed over to perform the Illumination Art for the rescue. But s, this ultimately proved futile.


    Arlen''s response was very swift.


    The moment he realized that the deceased might have been assassinated, he had everyone distance themselves from the Priests trying to save the faller and the body, and he immediately dispatched men to seal off the staircases. He also ordered the waiters, who were stopped on the second floor due to the staircase being sealed, to immediately close all the windows on the second floor to prevent anyone from escaping in the confusion.


    "Please remain calm and stay where you are. The Supervisory Bureau will arrive within ten minutes."


    Arlen''s voice, low and clear, resonated throughout the entire building. As a characteristic of the Path of Authority, his voice could be very loud.


    Although his voice did not contain the power of the Path of Authority to control the minds of others, hisposure and calmness also suppressed the slight stir of tension and chaos.


    After that, Arlen picked up the phone on the counter. He began to dial.


    However, he did not call the Supervisory Bureau directly, but instead called his father. Arlen briefly recounted the incident that had urred at the White Ballet Shoes Club and asked him to report the case on his behalf. He particrly pointed out the fact that "Princess Isabel is also here today".


    Aiwass and a few others had not had the chance to go to the second floor, so they were stopped on the first floor before the stairs were sealed.


    He just quietly stayed by Arlen''s side.


    But what surprised Aiwass somewhat was that he actually did not have anything particr to remind him of.


    Because hepletely skipped the plot, Aiwass did not know that this Half-Elf senior with the long face was so outstanding. Faced with the emergency, Arlen was stunned for a brief moment, but he quickly came to his senses.


    Considering that Arlen, as a Half-Elf, was only just 21 years old, he indeed had a talent in this area.


    With such a talent, yet so frail... It could only be said that his mind indeed was not on the power of the Transcendents.


    However, Arlen actually also had the confidence to be willful.


    After all, he was not the eldest son but the third son. Moreover, as a Half-Elf, he could easily live to be 140 or 150 years old. In Arlen''s natural lifespan of over a hundred years, only one-seventh or one-eighth had passed. He still had plenty of time to grow and regret¡ªif he did not die, that is.


    The phone call made by the Minister of Justice was obviously very significant.


    Arlen said ten minutes... but actually, just over five minutes had passed when arge group of people burst through the door, stirring up a wave of low exmations.


    They wore ck helmets resembling those of a knight and ck, divided leather armor, with one pistol and one short sword strapped on either side of their waists. Just the first wave entering the door numbered over twenty people, instantly crowding the first-floor hall.


    They moved through the crowd, formed a human wall, and surrounded the scene. Following them, two Inspectors came in, wearing white gloves and ck suits.


    Then, the heavy sound of boots colliding with the floor came from outside the door.


    An almost fully armed old Knight d in silver-white te armor, without his helmet, walked in from the wide-open door.


    He had a head of disheveled short hair, turned greyish-white due to age, and sharp, dark blue eyes. His tan, dark skin bore visible scars, which subtly exuded a faint silver-white glow.


    To the surprise of many, the old Knight carried a pure white two-handed sword on his back, shimmering with a dim glow.


    It looked nothing like a modern weapon, and certainly not like something to be used in a city.


    Upon entering, the old Knight''s eagle-like gaze swept around and quickly found Isabel.


    "Greetings, Princess Isabel."


    As soon as the old Knight entered, he immediately half-knelt, emitting an old and steady voice: "By the Silver-Crowned Dragon above, I shall ensure your safety."


    Among the Inspectors and Supervisory teams, several also half-knelt to salute. A ritual inherently mysterious and powerful, this half-kneel was an exclusive ceremonial gesture of Knights, representing submission to the royal Authority, seeking power, strength, and protection from a higher presence.


    Only the Knight Family could perform this ritual towards the royal family; others at most could bow. The ones performing the ritual could faintly sense the mood, intention, and health of the royal they saluted, and confirm whether the person was of true royal blood.


    Isabel did not recognize him and could only nod politely to the old Knight and respond softly, "Thank you... please, everyone, rise."


    Then the old Knight stood up and moved beside Isabel. Only then did the Inspectors begin to investigate the deceased and start to collect the scattered documents on the ground.


    And all the people in the club were now casting their eyes towards Isabel.


    Although Isabel had been standing at the door for quite some time, and many people had noticed her, she was not the first to arrive. Some people were already inside, deeply engrossed in conversation and had not noticed Isabel at the door.


    Isabel had a quarter of elf blood in her veins, and although she appeared young, she was over one meter sixty in height. Even if a passerby saw the back of a blonde girl, unless they could see her face clearly, most people would not immediately associate her with the kingdom''s only surviving princess.


    After all, Isabel also had to wear a uniform at school, and there were too many blonde girls at the Royal Law University.


    The outfit that Isabel was wearing at that moment was simr to the one Hayna wore for the first time when she visited Moriarty Manor¡ªa blue and white uniform, which was not the attire of the Supervisory Bureau but the school uniform of the Royal Law University.


    The girls'' school uniform consisted of a white long-sleeve shirt with a dark blue vest-skirt on the outside, while the boys'' school zer was a dark blue suit. The only difference between different departments was the color of the tie, and what they all had inmon was the emblem of the Royal Law University on the left chest.


    Princess Isabel had never entered the White Ballet Shoes Club before.


    Coincidentally, on the day she arrived, a life was lost in the club.


    You should know, since the establishment of the White Ballet Shoes Club over forty years ago, not a single life had been lost there before!


    Even though there were asional brawls, there had never been serious injuries, let alone such a tant assassination!


    Two priests used Illumination Art immediately but still could not bring the victim back. This was definitely a murder involving profound Transcendent powers!


    Could this be a failed assassination attempt against the princess? Or was it that her entry into the White Ballet Shoes Club caused some kind of misunderstanding? Or is it... merely a coincidence?


    Since most people were not very familiar with the deceased, whispers started spreading through the crowd.


    "I am the Director of the Supervisory Bureau from the Red Queen District."


    The old Knight said sternly with a straight face, "Your Highness, you can call me Gordon. Chief Inspector Edward is also on his way. The First Aerial Cavalry Brigade has already surrounded the club building, and no one will be able to escape in the chaos."


    ¡ªJust one person had died, and both the Director and the Chief Inspector of the Supervisory Bureau had immediately rushed over themselves. Continue your adventure with §Þ??


    This efficiency was definitely not the result of normal protocol following an rm. It was all because Princess Isabel happened to be at the scene.


    Arlen was the one who reacted quickly.


    When he saw the dark golden de without a handle, he immediately realized that this case was beyond his authority, which led him to have the Minister of Justice personally inform the Director of the Supervisory Bureau in the Red Queen District.


    A dagger might have been one thing, but this type of thin de without a hilt was unquestionably an exotic Weapon.


    Although it was unclear how it was used, the user must have undergone special training.


    In other words, a professional assassin.


    And their White Ballet Shoes Club would not let anyone in without the "Crystal Ballet Shoes" badge.


    That is to say, a professional assassin mingled into a politically connected Association, which had strict admission restrictions, on an asion frequented by the only princess left in Avalon.


    If Arlen didn''t handle this situation well, the entire club might be implicated. Everyone might have to undergo interrogation and secret investigations by the Supervisory Court... Even his father could be entangled in this.


    Considering such a scenario, Arlen decided to dial his father directly.


    ¡ªThis is the situation, so now it is up to you to deal with it, old man.


    The effect was significant.


    Although it was not known whether the assassin was still inside or had silently escaped, reinforcements¡ªmore than enough for their needs¡ªbegan to converge towards the White Ballet Shoes Club.


    Aiwass even thought that the Director Kent from the White Queen District might have received a phone call and started to dispatch people this way. Perhaps Sherlock had been notified as well... after all, he was Director Kent''s designated backbone, an external thought process.


    "Director!"


    At that moment, an anxious Inspector ran over, "The identity of the deceased has been ascertained!"


    "¡ªHe is Lord Drost''s chief personal secretary, Sir Raff!"


    Hearing this, Lily, who had been standing quietly behind Aiwass, suddenly widened her eyes.

 Chapter 120: Chapter 79: The Bad Woman Radar Goes Off

    ¡ª¡ªDrost.


    This surname belonged to Lily''s biological father, the vigorous and robust Minister of Commerce.


    Old Knight Gordon initially let out a subconscious sigh of relief, then immediately his brow furrowed again.


    Given that it involved an influential minister¡­ it was highly unlikely that the royal family was involved, which was the best news so far and avoided the worst possibility.


    But conversely, the chief private secretary to the Minister of Commerce was also a bigwig in his own right.


    Secretary Raff was considered a civil servant in the administrative system, directly responsible only to the Permanent Undersecretary, aside from Minister Drost. Although he appeared to be almost fifty years old, there was still some possibility of further promotion for him.


    Moreover, this only served to broaden the range of potential suspects.


    The members of the Knight Family pledged their knightly oaths at their investiture, swearing not to harm the royal family.


    If Princess Isabel had been the original target of the killer, then all the members of the Knight Family present in the club could have been ruled out immediately.


    But now¡­


    "Has the cause of death been determined?"


    Director Gordon interrupted his thoughts to ask this question.


    He had nced over briefly earlier and knew that the victim had likely fallen from the second floor next to the banister down to the first floor.


    This was a fall from a height of about five or six meters. Such a height could indeed be fatal. But right next to him were high-ranking priests capable of using the Illumination Art.


    For a fall from such a height, unless hended exactly on the back of his head, it should certainly have been possible to revive him.


    The young Inspector shook his head: "It''s uncertain if he died from poison or a curse, but definitely not from the fall. It probably had to do with the small knife found in his back, which may need to be sent for analysis. One thing is sure, though: his death was extremely rapid; from the time he was injured to his death was no more than ten seconds¡ªinstantaneous. The priests who first tended to him can also corroborate this."


    "Does that mean," Director Gordon asked with furrowed brows, "the victim fell after being attacked by the murderer and died very shortly after hitting the ground?"


    Director Gordon''s brow was locked tight as he felt the case bing increasingly troublesome.


    After a moment of contemtion, he issued an order: "Immediately search everyone on the second floor of the club!


    "Dangerous items like this must have a container or a tool specifically made for its use. Find it!


    "Before his death, Secretary Raff might have been talking to someone. Find everyone who was near the banister on the second floor at the time of the incident, those who were not in conversation with others, those lurking in corners acting furtively, and those seen moving quickly away after the incident. Bring them down!"


    "Also," Mr. Aiwass, who had been watching quietly, suddenly interjected, "on top of this, please also check if any second-floor patrons are carrying documents or document cases."


    Hearing Aiwass''s voice, both the young Inspector and Director Gordon turned their heads.


    Looking at Aiwass, who was seated in his wheelchair, Director Gordon easily recognized his identity.


    "...Mr. Aiwass, right. I''ve heard about the case you handled in Lohar District," said the old Knight in a heavy tone.


    He didn''t dismiss Aiwass because of his young age but instead asked earnestly, "Do you think this has something to do with the documents Secretary Raff was carrying?"


    "Just an intuition. No evidence."


    Aiwass didn''t smile but said seriously, "But generally speaking, do people whoe to listen to music at the White Ballet Shoes Club carry so many documents? Even if they carried documents, wouldn''t they put them in a bag? Reviewing so many documents by the second-floor banister, it would be easy for some to fall down.


    "So, I think he might have just opened his document case, or received the documents from someone else. Hence, it is especially necessary to check if someone tried to steal something¡ªor perhaps, the assassination wasmitted because someone was discovered trying to filch a document."


    In reality, this was a bluff by Aiwass. He only proposed this possibility because it seemed less professional and therefore more usible.


    Anyway, both he and Isabel were there to keep watch, and Edward would alsoeter. In the end, they would definitely conduct such a search... and if Aiwass had sounded too expert, he might have drawn unwanted attention.


    The real reason was that Aiwass recognized the victim, the more he looked.


    And upon hearing his name, he finally remembered his identity, recalling that portion of the plot from the cutscene he had skipped over in the game!


    This middle-aged secretary with gold-rimmed sses and a thinning hairline was the "someone" mentioned in the letter sent to the Noble Red Society!


    In the game, yers first learned that this "someone" was likely a close confidant trusted by some high-ranking individual. Then, from a mainline subsidiary quest rted to the "Sweater Brothers Association" that appeared several months after the "Execution Square corpse disappearance case," yers obtained a document written in code.


    By solving the puzzle of this document with Sherlock, yers discovered that it was actually a series of locations and numbers. In short, it detailed the transportation of various quantities of explosives stored in an abandoned chemical nt to designated locations at scheduled times.


    Somehow, the yer and Aiwass had been discovered sealed in a crate and, following the discovery, had leaped out to engage in battle with the finders.


    Looking back now, it seems likely that the yer and Aiwass had risked hiding in the crate as a means to infiltrate and search the area. They nned to have Sherlock or someone else deliver the crate to a predetermined location at the agreed-upon time, but once there, it was somehow detected as suspicious.


    After defeating those people, they acquired another set of documents from them and just managed to escape under the relentless pursuit of the corrupt inspectors.


    The actual content of the documents was unknown because Aiwass skipped through it, but there was a bit he remembered from the dialogue after the cutscene ended¡ªafter careful analysis by Sherlock, it was discovered that the handwriting on the three documents, seemingly different, actually belonged to the same person.


    Over a weekter, a government official was discovered by the Supervisory Court to have taken bribes andmitted suicide by poisoning himself at home in advance.


    Although this incident only appeared in a corner of the ss Staircase Daily, Sherlock keenly sensed something was amiss. He specifically investigated the actual timing of the official''s death and found out that it coincided with the period after the yer and Aiwass''s failed infiltration and their switch to a more ferocious stealth approach.


    Upon learning this, the yer sneaked into the estate and stole the documents of thete Secretary Raff. Sherlock confirmed that the "certain someone" was indeed this secretary byparing the handwriting, thus concluding that the "big shot" coborating with the Noble Red Society was none other than Minister Drost!


    ¡ªEven though Aiwass had skipped the intermediate scenes, fortunately, he came across a newspaper clipping that mentioned "a certain officialmitting suicide at home due to his crimes" during a conversation with Sherlock.


    Aiwass couldn''t remember his name or face, but he did recall his hairstyle.


    And now, upon seeing Secretary Raff''s gold-rimmed sses, he finally recalled that plot point¡ª


    Lily''s biological father, Minister Drost, was the mole who had been bought by the agents of the Star Antimony Kingdom, regrly channeling top-secret intelligence to the Kingdom through the Noble Red Society in secrecy!


    Identifying the mole so quickly was undoubtedly a cause for celebration.


    Not to mention that Aiwass was still undercover, operating from the shadows rather than being exposed due to recklessness as had happened in the game.


    But now, the problem had be even moreplex.


    And among all those present, including the assassin... it was possible that only Aiwass trulyprehended theplexity of the current situation.


    Because Aiwass also recognized what that unsheathed poisoned de truly was¡ª Explore more at §Þ??


    It was the signature assassination weapon used by the "Hawkeye," an elite spy organization of the Iris Kingdom.


    Its nature was entirely different from that of Avalon''s Supervisory Court. While both served as intelligence agencies, the Supervisory Court''s inspectors, in every sense, were part of an official organization, a power authority.


    Whereas the Iris Kingdom''s organization had always been a secretive group of assassins operating mainly within the country and rarely going abroad.


    Since the "Hawkeye" were an assassin organization and associated with mystical skills of stealth, poison, and invisibility, all adapted for the Path of Adaptation and even included "hawk" in their name, they were widely believed to be a secret society of defectors from the nation worshiping the Lord of Scalefeather, ck Hawk.


    ¡ªIt wasn''t until midway through version 4.0 that yers first learned the secret leader of this assassin organization was actually the Prime Minister of the Iris Kingdom!


    The old Prime Minister used this assassin group to target political opponents of his faction, their strong supporters, or inversely, to smear them or eliminate his own party rivals. He disguised all this as contract killings, creating an within Iris where two factions¡ªone following the Path of Love and the other the Path of Beauty¡ªengaged in deadly feuds.


    A core demand of the old Prime Minister''s radical faction was extreme racism. They advocated expelling the "Son of the Moon" from the country, emting Avalon''s purification of paths by abandoning the tradition of the Path of Love within to alleviate the increasingly intense disputes of paths within the Iris Kingdom.


    Therefore, Aiwass immediately thought of the elegant and beautiful upperssman that Aiden mentioned who had given him "Drac" and had ultimately entwined Aiden with the affairs of the "Son of the Moon" race.


    Thinking of this, Aiwass looked at Aiden with a somewhatplex expression.


    Noticing Aiwass''s gaze, Aiden scratched his head in confusion and looked back: "What''s wrong, Aiwass?"


    "Nothing," Aiwass sighed, then shook his head and spoke softly, "Of course, documents, such inconspicuous things, could also be hidden away... like sandwiched in a book that one carries around. You''re experienced, so I''ll need you to supervise carefully, Director Gordon."


    He couldn''t just point it out directly, saying "the killer is a book-loving beautiful female student." Deductive reasoning wasn''t that outrageous.


    After all, Aiwass himself hadn''t even seen what she actually looked like.


    He had to provide some precise information, one piece at a time.


    "... I''ll go take a look myself," said the old Knight after contemting for a moment, seeing the sense in Aiwass''s words.


    Watching Director Gordon going upstairs, Aiwass let out a sigh.


    ¡ªTo be fair, Aiden, your bad-woman radar is really sharp.

 Chapter 121: Chapter 80 Shadow Agent Croix

    ording to Aiwass''s memories in this life, Minister Drost was a friend of Old Moriarty. They had a fairly good personal rtionship.


    He was a loyal minister of the queen''s faction with real power, and he had a very good rtionship with the Moriarty Family. Moreover, he was a minister with strong work ability, integrity, and no desire for power. Without sufficient evidence, such a pir of the kingdom would definitely be immovable¡ªeven with evidence, it might not be possible to move him directly.


    "Strong work ability, integrity, and no desire for power..."


    Aiwass silently chewed over the key words associated with Old Drost in his mind.


    He had felt that something was wrong before, but because of Lily, this walking ck history, he hadn''te to realize it.


    Now that he thought about it, Minister Drost seemed a little too perfect outside his private life:


    An official with strong work ability and integrity would have some ambition to move up; an official with strong work ability who doesn''t n to advance any further would hardly be very upright; and an upright official without the desire for power usually wouldn''t have much ability to speak of.


    This was basically an impossible triangle, yet Old Drost met all three conditions.


    No wonder. It made sense if he was an internal spy.


    ...Could it be that Old Drost was also one of the chess pieces controlled by Moriarty?


    Seated in a wheelchair, Aiwass rhythmically tapped his fingers on the armrest as he fell into deep thought.


    On the other hand, Director Gordon of the Supervisory Bureau, along with his men, was conducting a thorough search of every individual on the second floor of the White Ballet Shoes Club.


    He took Aiwass''s advice very seriously. Therefore, he brought two of the most experienced inspectors to personally check whether there were any documents hidden in the packages or personal belongings of all the members.


    Standing quietly in the corner, Croix gently pushed her sses, unnoticed by anyone.


    She had a beautiful and dazzling appearance, along with a head of caramel-colored short curly hair that gave a warm and sweet impression. At this moment, she was not wearing a school uniform but a backless white dress suitable for summer or parties, adorned with the badge of the Crystal Ballet Shoes.


    In the early winter of November, such attire was bound to make asting impression.


    But everyone around Croix acted as if they had not seen her at all. Influenced by her sses, her appearance and clothing seemed ordinary.


    It was as if she was no different from anyone else. The moment one''s gaze left her, her presence became impossible to detect again, just like a fleeting illusion.


    Croix, holding a stack of books in her arms, hid in the corner and quietly watched everything unfold.


    ...There are capable people in the Supervisory Bureau.


    No, to be precise, it was the young man named Aiwass Moriarty who was somewhat miraculous, Croix thought to herself.


    Until just now, the situation had been under Croix''s control.


    If she hadn''t used "Hawk Feather" but simply poisoned him, Avalonians would have had a hard time realizing that Secretary Raff had been killed by a professional assassin. If she had poisoned him in Raff''s house, the oue would probably have been the same¡ªthe cause of his death would have been covered up by the Minister of Commerce.


    And her mission as an assassin was to make Raff''s death conspicuous, to let him die in a suspicious manner in full view of everyone.


    Because of Raff''s unique cause of death and the documents he left behind, the Avalonians will start to suspect that Raff was engaged in intelligence trading with foreigners, and that he was immediately silenced after giving away crucial information.


    Then, they will begin to investigate those documents.


    Although the documents are mainlyposed of codednguage, Croix believes in the young man from the Hermes family''s analytical and decoding abilities. He has already exposed the "Sweater Brothers Association" and discovered some alchemical bombs. It is presumed that he will soon realize that these documents must be connected to the smuggling case at the port.


    After that, the Minister of Commerce will naturally be implicated. His connections with the Star Antimony people may be discovered, and even other ministers with connections to Star Antimony could be uncovered as well.


    And this is the task of Croix as a spy.


    Although for the Iris Kingdom, neither Avalon nor Star Antimony are desirable, it is crucial for the Iris Kingdom right now that Avalon does not encounter problems at this point in time.


    They need to maintain hostility between Avalon and Star Antimony as much as possible, but at the same time, they need to keep a bnce between the two. They must ensure they do not enter a state of war, yet still continuously weaken the strength of both nations. Enjoy exclusive chapters from §Þ??


    In Avalon, there are quite a few spies like her who have infiltrated.


    Their goal is to alleviate the Avalonians'' hostility toward the Irisflower People within Avalon''s territory, and to increase their hatred towards the Star Antimony people. At the right moment, help those knights who are bound by their armor to break free from the many restraints entangling them¡ª


    The knights of Avalon are limited by their Path binding and must follow orders; they are also bound by their loyalty oaths and cannot harm the royal family.


    But in fact, as long as they do not harbor thoughts of "usurpation," they will not stray from their Path.


    In other words, they just cannot attempt to seize royal power.


    So, as long as the royal family continues to exist but loses their power to control them, that is sufficient.


    The knights can then take off their armor and, following the example of the Iris Flower, form a cab.


    The power belonging to the Path of Authority is ultimately top-down and oppressive¡ªthe mystical skills of the Path of Authority are "leadership" and "speech," and have nothing to do with loyalty.


    Even if some knights willingly submit to the royal family from their hearts... if someone kindly helps them break free from their restraints, they surely will not feel distressed by it.


    Just as the Path of Beauty may lean towards Bnce or the Path of Dusk, the Path of Authority may also converge towards Transcendence and Love.


    Power grows ambition and amplifies desires. She knows all too well how to handle those inclined toward love.


    Croix''s main task is to propagate the dangers and horrors of the Son of the Moon in Avalon.


    This is to prepare in advance for the possibility that the Son of the Moon may join Avalon after being expelled by the Iris Kingdom.


    Then a few days ago, she suddenly received a task from her superiors¡ª


    The superiors asked her to find a way to thwart the conspiracies of the Star Antimony Kingdom and to expose the Minister of Commerce as much as possible, or at the very least force him into a dormant state. As a lead, her superiors gave her the name "Raff" and a way to contact him.


    She managed to steal the "Noble Red" ring stored in the Supervisory Bureau, and she swapped it out for a fake. She used it to forge her identity and sent the ring along with a letter for an urgent meeting to Secretary Raff, arranging a meeting here.


    Fortunately, the "Sweater Brothers Association" stronghold was discovered by Sherlock Hermes; otherwise, it would have been quite difficult for her to arrange the meeting.


    With great effort, she managed to lure out Secretary Raff, who was carrying the documents.


    It''s just a pity.


    ...It would have been better if Aiwass hadn''t shown up here today.


    Croix furrowed her brows.


    She had, in fact, just seen Princess Isabel. For safety''s sake, it would probably be best for her not to take action.


    But she was not a member of the Noble Red Society after all, and if Secretary Raff went back andmunicated with the Minister of Commerce, it would be easy for him to see through her false identity. It would then be more difficult to arrange another public meeting with him.


    So after thinking it over, she decided to take a risk.


    It was a risk, but undoubtedly also a rare opportunity.


    Since this matter involved the safety of the princess herself, with an unidentified Transcendent assassin infiltrating the club... Raff would inevitably be thoroughly investigated.


    What Croix did not expect was that Aiwass instantly realized she might have taken some of the documents.


    The power of a Transcendent from the Path of Adaptation allowed her to conceal her presence, as well as to listen to conversations clearly from such a distance.


    Her mind was filled with doubts and amazement.


    ¡ªHow had Aiwass figured it out?


    Taking part of the documents had been an impromptu decision on her part.


    Because Princess Isabel was there, Croix worried that the Minister of Commerce would react too swiftly and immediately arrange for all the documents to be secured. Hence, she deliberately left part of them behind as evidence.


    The documents had scattered everywhere when Raff fell, so it would not be unusual for one or two pages to go missing. Perhaps someone at the scene had stolen them.


    If the Minister of Commerce tidied up the situation cleanly, Croix could anonymously publish the documents she had secreted away. This would continue to pressure the Minister of Commerce.


    Doubts filled her heart.


    Before acting, Croix had also carefully thought through her actions with a detective''s reasoning.


    Logically, if someone wanted to silence Raff to obtain information, they could have taken all the documents. Taking only part and leaving the rest would make their actions more conspicuous; such behavior would not make sense and did not align with primary interests. But if they took everything, the Supervisory Bureau might have to investigate for a while before they noticed the documents were missing...


    So from that perspective, if Aiwass was truly apetent detective, he should have dismissed the possibility that someone had silenced Raff after trading information and should have considered the problem to be moreplicated.


    ¡ªYet Aiwass had indeed stopped at that point, requesting Director Gordon to check their documents.


    No, do you really have a clue?


    Raff falling with a pile of documents was conspicuously unnatural. Would a real assassin make such a rudimentary mistake?


    From the viewpoint of Croix, who knew everything, it was clear to her that Aiwass'' reasoning was conspicuously unnatural.


    Was he truly all reputation and no substance?


    Yet if that were the case, why would he actively interfere with Director Gordon''s investigation?


    He even directly mentioned that the documents were in the books¡ªas if he had seen her actions firsthand.


    Because she had indeed hidden the documents inside a book.


    The information itself was coded. If it was just one or two pages, folding them up and cing them inside a book would prevent them from being easily noticed.


    No one ever steals just one or two pages from a stack of documents when stealing information. If Director Gordon had investigated on his own, his experience would definitely tell him that this was impossible.


    Yet Aiwass had convinced Director Gordon toe up and search personally.


    That was problematic.


    The biggest issue here was that Gordon was very strong.


    Her sses were enchanted with the ongoing spell of "Unseeable" from the Path of Authority, granting her the ability to go undetected by people''s gazes. Those inspectors with lower energy levels couldn''t see her at all, just as the club members couldn''t see who had killed the secretary.


    Gordon might not be able to defeat her, but his strength wasparable to hers. Plus, he was a true Transcendent of the Path of Authority.


    He might see through her psychologically hidden presence.


    Although as a top-tier agent, Croix was confident that Gordon wouldn''t be able to kill her. In a one-on-one situation, she was likely to kill him quickly.


    But she had also heard that there was arge detachment of Sky Cavalry outside.


    She did not want to run into those military folks.


    However, due to Aiwass''s instructions, Gordon had alreadye to search personally.


    Croix couldn''t move now. Any motion would be detected, and Gordon would be aware of her presence as he came close. Unless Gordon turned around and left before getting to her, it could be said that she was already exposed.


    However, Croix was not very nervous.


    Because she still had a trump card!


    Even though the Sky Cavalrypletely surrounded the outside, making it impossible for her to break through directly, as a Transcendent from the Path of Adaptation and an elite assassin, she had plenty of ways to survive should she fail to infiltrate.


    With that in mind, she looked towards Aiwass.


    Before Gordon got close, Croix pushed her sses up again. Holding a pile of books, her body quietly melted into a dense shadow.


    This was the characteristic of her path, the thrice-chosen "Shadow Affinity."


    ¡ªIt was also the reason for Croix''s confidence that she would definitely be able to escape.

 Chapter 122: Chapter 81 Shadow Demon: How dare you?

    Croix had invested almost all her Path traits into "Shadow Affinity" during her advancement.


    The first level of Shadow Affinity only made her less noticeable when she was in the shadows, or helped reduce her presence when her face was obscured by darkness.


    Starting from the second level, Shadow Affinity began to interfere with reality.


    After Croix enhanced her Shadow Affinity to the second level, she could infuse her daggers and arrows with the power of shadows, because the strength of shadows had already prated the mystical skill of "Assassination."


    By the third level, the power of shadows had infiltrated her profession''s ability of "Stealth."


    Now she couldpletely vanish into the shadows.


    Since few people would choose the Shadow Affinity trait, which was utterly useless in the early stages, the ability to adapt to the Path, and the threshold of needing third-level Shadow Affinity to barely learn it, was undoubtedly a rare skill. At least, most people in Avalon wouldn''t know this secret.


    Even within "Hawkeye," there weren''t many who possessed this skill.


    This difference in understanding was undoubtedly fatal.


    But after all, she wasn''t the legendary "Shadow Demon" and couldn''t melt into the shadows at will. To maintain her state of shadow, she had to keep focused and continuously expend physical and mental energy.


    If the shadow she was hiding in were destroyed, she would be harmed. People who walked too quickly, changing the shadows at their feet too rapidly, would drain her strength and tire her out. If the person happened to walk under a light, shrinking the shadow to a tiny size, her attempt at stealth might fail.


    However, all these disadvantages didn''t diminish the strength of this skill.


    With extraordinary equipment that helped reduce her presence, she could make it so that others wouldn''t notice the shadow at all. Up to this point, she had used this skill to silently kill many people. She had even used it to sneak into a congressman''s bedroom, underyers of protection, murdered him, and then hid within the shadows, waiting for the guards to check before leaving along with their shadows.


    After using this skill numerous times, Croix had gained some insights.


    Hiding inrger and more stable shadows required less physical and mental energy.


    Therefore, Croix had found a perfect hiding spot.


    ¡ªThat was right under the wheelchair Aiwass sat in.


    As the wheelchair moved forward, its shadow size basically did not change. Hence, she could keep hiding there almost effortlessly. Even if Chief Inspector Edward or Detective Sherlock arrivedter, they wouldn''t consider the possibility that the "murderer was hiding right under Aiwass."


    It was what was referred to as "hiding in in sight."


    After Aiwass went to bed at night, she could crawl out quietly from the shadow beneath the wheelchair and kill Aiwass.


    This was to prevent any unforeseen circumstances and minimize variables.


    She really couldn''t understand how Aiwass had guessed her actions.


    At most, Aiwass could have suspected the Minister of Commerce''s involvement with the Noble Red Society, but The Association members and the secretaries were on the same side, with no need or possibility to kill him; even if Aiwass recognized "Hawk Feather" and was aware of the existence of the "Hawkeye" organization, he shouldn''t have thought in that direction¡ªno one was supposed to know their real purpose and mission, everything was hidden in the shadows.


    Yet, Aiwass could even point out the possibility that "the other party might have put the documents inside a book." It was as if he had witnessed it all with his own eyes.


    It was terrifying.


    Unfathomable. Iprehensible.


    Could it be that he was a natural Prophet who could foresee the future?


    But Croix was open-minded and didn''t trouble herself over things she couldn''tprehend. Usually, she wouldn''t think about things that were too confusing.


    ¡ªSince she couldn''t figure it out, she would just get rid of the unstable factor, Aiwass, tonight.


    I''ll just borrow your shadow for a while, then strike in the dead of night.


    No one would know it was her doing. Even if they did, it wouldn''t help.


    Thinking this, Croix morphed into a creeping shadow and slithered into the shadow of an Inspector who was about to go downstairs. And as he passed by Aiwass, she crawled along his shadow to the underside of Aiwass''s wheelchair.


    But just then.


    Croix suddenly felt an immense, incredibly intense fear.


    This fear and aversion to dangerous entities were warnings from her Path of Adaptation''s strength. Whenever she unwittingly delved into danger, the strength of the Path of Adaptation would transform into a sense of "fear" to try and save her.


    ...But what could it be?


    Croix''smon sense told her that she absolutely should not go out now. Otherwise, appearing suddenly beside Aiwass would make her the target of everyone''s attention, and it would be difficult for her to escape from the encirclement of the Sky Cavalry outside.


    But that sense of fear grew stronger, causing her brain to go numb and her body to shake uncontrobly.


    If someone were watching the shadow cast by Aiwass''s wheelchair at this moment, they would see that the shadow was shaking slightly, as if sitting in front of a firece.


    And at that time, Aiwass seemed to fall into thought, his right hand pinching his chin, focusing intently ahead.


    Then, under Croix''s scrutiny, he nodded thoughtfully as if in realization.


    ¡ªAnd then, he looked down at his own shadow.


    A pair of deep blue pupils, calm as ake, profound as an abyss.

 Chapter 123: Chapter 81 Shadow Demon: How dare you? _2

    Gazed down upon by those eyes, Croix felt a chilling shiver in an instant.


    Was my earlier crisis warning about this?


    Has he guessed it was me again?


    Realizing this possibility, her heart was nearly overwhelmed by shock and confusion.


    Why?


    How could he possibly guess that I am here?!


    Is there some kind of tracking marker on me? Did he notice changes in the shadows? Or did I unintentionally reveal some w?


    "Director Gordon."


    Just as an increasingly panicked Croix hesitated about whether to leave Aiwass''s shadow, Aiwass suddenly raised his voice and called out, "Pleasee here."


    She saw her chance, seizing the moment Aiwass looked up to call someone, she immediately transitioned into the shadow of Isabel, who was beside Aiwass.


    Now you should not be able to find me!


    At that moment, Princess Isabel seemed to sense something. She frowned in difort, as if feeling a little unwell.


    That was actually quite normal.


    Transcendents from the Path of Beauty are much more sensitive than those of other paths... but fortunately, she didn''t know about the Shadow Stealth skill.


    In the end, she did not directly detect something in her shadow. Croix reassured herself internally.


    And upon hearing Aiwass''s call, Director Gordon, though slightly frowning, duly walked over.


    "Have you found something, Mr. Aiwass?"


    The old director asked.


    After Director Gordon had approached, Aiwass then showed a calm and gentle smile.


    It was a confident smile of someone holding a winning hand.


    "That''s right, Director Gordon. Please protect me," said Aiwass as he took out an exquisitely crafted Elf Pistol from his bosom.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, Director Gordon felt its silver casing, engraved with thorns and filigree, seemed for a moment to dull.


    In the next instant, the old man''s expression became serious. Without any visible movement, the old Knight, who had been over a meter away, appeared at Aiwass''s side in an instant, his strong right hand lightly resting on Aiwass''s wrist.


    Because Aiwass''s gun muzzle was too close to Princess Isabel.


    If it hadn''t been for Aiwass deliberately calling out to him earlier, and that he was aiming at the shadow at his own feet, the old Knight might have moved to subdue him the moment Aiwass drew his gun.


    Now he rested his hand on Aiwass''s wrist, confident that his actions would be faster than a bullet. At this distance, if Aiwass tried to aim at Isabel''s vital spots, he could easily interfere.


    However, Aiwass did not panic but just stared at the shadow beneath his feet.


    Watching the direction of his gaze, Croix also breathed a sigh of relief. Although she could still feel a sense of danger,pared to the life-threatening crisis she felt under Aiwass''s shadow, the current situation was much easier.


    Under the quiet scrutiny of almost everyone in the club, Aiwass spoke leisurely, "I have just undergoneplex thinking and reasoning, and have a bold idea. Of course, it is mixed with irrational inspiration. I cannot guarantee this conjecture is correct; it''s merely an idea. But just in case, I still called over Director Gordon."


    With his preparatory speechplete, Aiwass suddenly pulled the trigger at the shadow beneath his feet.


    Bang¡ª


    The muzzle red, and a bullet was truly fired, startling almost everyone, except for Croix, who was slightly relieved.


    Almost in the next instant, without any hesitation, Aiwass tilted the gun and aimed at the shadow of Isabel, which was connected to his own.


    Bang¡ª


    A second bullet was shot, and a sharp, shrill scream rose from beneath Isabel''s shadow.


    A young girl with a pained and twisted face, dressed in a thin white dress, staggered out of her shadow.


    This made Isabel''s scalp tingle instantly.


    When did she slip into my shadow!


    The old Knight reacted with extreme speed.


    Almost without hesitation, his right hand, which had been resting on Aiwass''s wrist, shot out instantly, striking Croix, who was standing between Aiwass and Isabel.


    Although it was just a bullet, Croix''s right shoulder felt as if it had been shed by a sharp de, nearly severed.


    A gust of wind blew and Croix was directly knocked away.


    The hair of Aiwass and Isabel next to her was messily blown about by the fierce wind, and Croix smashed through a countertop and heavily crashed into the shelves behind the bar with a loud bang.


    Meanwhile, Croix''s grip on the books titled "Drac," as well as her sses, scattered on the spot.


    Having pushed the assant away from Princess Isabel, the old Knight finally drew his sword.


    The two-handed sword was drawn, its splendid and radiant silver glow burning along the de like silver fire.


    He immediately rushed over, like an ancient knight.


    Croix, who had been pushed against the wall, was in agony as she again melted into the shadows, fleeing the club at tremendous speed along the ground. Director Gordon charged out right behind her.


    "The mark is confirmed, right?" Aiwass asked the Shadow Demon internally.


    [Of course, my master... Without fail,] came the hoarse, low voice of the Shadow Demon.


    [I can hardly wait to drown that audacious thief in the shadows.]


    Just then, his Shadow Demon was suddenly awakened.


    Someone had entered his shadow.


    The Shadow Demon felt unusually angered by the invasion of its domain. If it hadn''t been for Aiwass''s urgent appeasement, it might have instantly torn that brazen assassin to pieces right in front of everyone, sprinkling her evenly within a fifty-meter radius.

 Chapter 124: Chapter 81 Shadow Demon: How dare you? _3

    ```


    ¡ª¡ªBut if that were the case, Aiwass would be in trouble.


    So the moment he fell into deep thought, he was actually conversing with the Shadow Demon, trying to appease it.


    Unless Aiwass encountered an irreversible, life-threatening danger that needed to be addressed immediately, he''d certainly conceal the fact that he was bound by a contract with the Shadow Demon. Even if Avalon didn''t forbid the practice of Transcendence any longer, he wouldn''t expose himself voluntarily because that was his trump card.


    You see, it was precisely because Croix was unaware of the existence of the Shadow Demon that she attempted to invade Aiwass''s shadow.


    However, based on Aiwass''s experience, without allowing the Shadow Demon to take action, it was impossible for the shot to kill an assassin of at least level thirty or forty.


    Transcendents on the Path of Adaptation are particrly good at escaping.


    Unless you kill them instantly, once a chase ensues, it''s highly likely they won''t be killed.


    Thus, the Shadow Demon had previously provided another solution.


    Aiwass attacked her with an [Enchantment Card: de of Shadows] crafted using the strength extracted from the Shadow Demon, leaving traces of the Shadow Demon in the shadow she controlled.


    As long as she reappeared nearby, the Shadow Demon would immediately sense it; or Aiwass could actively track her... or use it as a medium to directly impose a curse on her.


    Although he did not possess the skill of casting curses now, Aiwass was certain she woulde again.


    Because when he shot her out at that moment, Aiwass had felt her strong intent to kill and astonishment.


    She clearly hadn''t understood yet how she had been exposed. But she should realize that Aiwass had already found some method to locate her.


    To avoid exposing herself again, she''d probably attempt to strike at Aiwass when he was least on guard and unable to think ¡ª that is, when Aiwass was sleeping.


    She might even try to interrogate Aiwass in a deserted ce to learn the secret of how he detected the w in her Shadow Stealth.


    But unfortunately...


    When Aiwass was asleep, the Shadow Demon was awake.


    As long as she came, she''d surely die.


    Not only would she forfeit equipment, but she''d also give away experience.


    This was much simpler than actively seeking her out.


    An assassin specialized in shadow abilities could never defeat an Upper-Level Demon who controlled the domain of shadows, the "Shadow Demon."


    Aiwass even understood her profession better than the assassin did. After all, it was developed by imitating the natural abilities of the Shadow Demon.


    Suddenly, Aiwass noticed the sses on the ground. They looked familiar.


    It seemed like loot had dropped?


    "Lily."


    Aiwass looked at it and called out softly.


    Lily guessed what Aiwass intended, and without waiting for him to speak, picked them up and handed them to Aiwass.


    Arlen also noticed this scene but tactfully didn''t say a word.


    He turned his head, pretending he saw nothing.


    As Aiwass received the sses, its attributes appeared before him:


    [Observer in the Shadow]


    [Extraordinary Equipment (Light Purple)]


    [Armor-Head]


    [Attribute: Edict of Invisibility (Triggered by the Path of Adaptation only)]


    ```


    [Attribute: When the enemy hasn''t discovered you, observing them continuously can slowly increase the uracy of your first strike against them (once per day, 0/1)]


    [Set: Eagle of the Shadow (1/4)]


    "¡ª¡ªContinue observing, keep analyzing. Remember, you have only one chance to make your move."


    ¡ª¡ªI actually looted some gear!


    And it''s decent gear at that!


    This is the PVP set that can only be exchanged with respect after earning enough goodwill from the "Hawkeye" assassin organization.


    The persistent spell "Edict of Invisibility" allows its user to be less and less visible until they turn invisible by remaining perfectly still. The other attribute, known as "Observer," will increase the hit rate inevitably as long as the target remains within the field of vision. Specifically, it means continuously erasing one''s presence beforending a hit on your opponent.


    This is indeed some good stuff. It''s a pity that I am not a person of the Path of Adaptation, nor do I know any friends who are...


    Aiwass paused for a moment.


    He suddenly had an idea.


    ... Now that I think about it, Lily always seems to have a low presence. She might just have the adaptability for the Path of Adaptation?


    Thinking this, Aiwass handed it over to Lily.


    "Try wearing it."


    There was a glint of expectation in Aiwass''s eyes, "It might suit you well."


    If Lily suddenly bes invisible one day, that would mean she''s awakened her talent!


    And if Lily truly has the talent for the Path of Adaptation... maybe when I advance to Transcendence, we could form an, ahem, unofficial team!


    Lily held the sses, looking a bit overwhelmed for a moment.


    "Aiwass, Aiwass..."


    At that moment, Isabel casually ced her finger lightly on Aiwass''s forearm.


    This affectionate gesture caused Arlen''s eyelids to twitch again.


    I can''t see this, I can''t see this...


    He repeated to himself in his mind.


    There was curiosity in Isabel''s eyes, along with lingering fright. Clearly, the fact that a living person had suddenly jumped out from her own shadow had startled her greatly: "How did you guess she was in the shadow?"


    "¡ª¡ªThis is basic deductive reasoning, my friend."


    Aiwass''s lips curved slightly, effortlessly reciting Sherlock''s catchphrase.


    He raised an eyebrow, surveying his surroundings: "Well, everyone, would you like to hear it too?"


    At that moment, his tone was as if he were not a college freshman, but a detective of long-standing fame.


    And everyone around him didn''t find anything amiss. Instead, they looked at Aiwass with eyes near wonder, as if he had performed an iprehensible feat of magic.


    Aiwass rxed his body andy back in his wheelchair, facing the scrutiny of the crowd with a calm and confident smile: "The specific steps of deduction are tooplicated and involve elements of chance, so I won''t waste everyone''s time."


    "Of course, I''d prefer the criminal to confess herself. I am not an Inspector, nor a Detective, just an ordinary reserve Priest. If the chief manages to catch the wrongdoer and she admits her crime, it will demonstrate the majesty of thew; but if, unfortunately, the criminal temporarily escapes, then I cannot possibly reveal her ws. That would only help her perfect her disguise, wouldn''t it?"


    Just kidding, I don''t even know how I deduced it myself, Aiwass thought.


    But Aiwass fully believed that Sherlock coulde up with a reasonable exnation.


    ¡ª¡ªWhen the timees, I''ll have to ask Mr. Sherlock to fabricate something for me.

 Chapter 125: Chapter 82 Sherlocks Speculation

    Tuesday morning.


    Just awoken, Sherlock was curled up in the rocking chair he used as a bed, leisurely eating a sandwich Edward had brought him, covered with a wool coat.


    Sherlock had low blood sugar. If he didn''t immediately eat something or drink some sugary water or honey water upon waking, his brain couldn''t start working.


    It could be a congenital problem, or perhaps he just didn''t like eating.


    If Edward hadn''t brought him breakfast, he probably would have just settled for some honey water.


    "You''re going to get a stomach ulcer if you keep this up, Hermes," Edward said, sitting in the chair next to Sherlock''s desk, his voice grave.


    He also held a simr sandwich. Soft white bread stuffed with beef, onions, cheese, lettuce, and plenty of cheese sauce.


    It was the portable breakfast that Edward had instructed his house''s cook to prepare in advance the night before.


    Because he knew Sherlock wouldn''t eat breakfast if he could help it.


    Though having a sandwich for breakfast might seem a bit shabby for the Moriarty family, if the food were any richer or moreplex, Sherlock would probably be even less inclined to eat.


    Squinting his eyes, Sherlock saidzily, "I usually try to keep myself hungry. That way, my brain can function more actively."


    "Are you practicing asceticism?"


    "Asceticism? Oh, no, no, no..."


    With a light chuckle, Sherlock perked up, clearly interested, "Why would you think I''m torturing myself for wisdom like a monk?"


    "Isn''t that the case?" Edward retorted.


    "Of course not," Sherlock replied. "Caring too much about something can easily trap you in formalities and discipline. That defeats the original purpose of seeking wisdom.


    "I admit that good things are indeed good. If good things and bad things are ced before me, and I have a choice, I will naturally tend to choose the better of the two.


    "But does that mean the worse ones are uneptable? Not necessarily. As long as they meet the need, it doesn''t really matter which one I choose¡ªin other words, I don''t necessarily have to choose the better one."


    As he spoke, Sherlock tossed thest bite of beef sandwich into his mouth.


    Chewing, he mumbled, "Honey water and a sandwich can both wake up my brain. So I''ll just eat whichever one ends up in my hands. You can''t expect me to go downstairs to buy a sandwich looking all groggy, right? You don''t know the terrible feeling of your brain grinding to a halt like a dry engine."


    "Then you might as well hire a maid to take care of you."


    "Oh, no, no, let''s forget that idea. My dear friend,"


    Sherlock shook his head vigorously, indicating a strong refusal. "You know, every document, every file in my room has its own ce. All of my bottles and jars have their own, somewhat arcane way of being arranged. No one but me can ce them so satisfactorily, so precisely right."


    "In this regard, you''re quite like Aiwass," Edward remarked, ncing at the cramped and messy room piled with various books, documents, and materials. "Honestly, you need someone to take care of your daily life. Why not just move back home? At least the cook there could make you decent meals three times a day."


    "Heh, forget about it."


    With a snort ofughter, Sherlock leaned back and the rocking chair began to sway gently. "If I go back home, the old man would start arranging blind dates and marriage for me again...


    "The brain slows down after overeating, numb after drinking. Whether falling in love with someone, obsessing over reputation, or desperately craving money and wealth, it can also make your mind unclear.


    "You know, Edward. The Path of Wisdom is a selfish one. The truth is destined to be sought alone. Marriage is just too much trouble for me."


    "Hearing this makes me think you''ve traveled quite far on the Path of Wisdom."


    Edward''s calm expression didn''t change. "Isn''t the furthest path you''ve walked the one of authority? Besides, you''re twenty-six, it''s about time you got married. It''s normal for Lord Arthur to be anxious about it."


    "...That''s just temporary. Soon, my Path of Wisdom will overtake it."


    Sherlock responded vaguely, then quickly countered, "And what about you? Aren''t you thirty-five and not yet married?"


    Edward just shook his head slightly, his voice unfluctuating, "That''s because I''m a widower.


    "I got married in my early twenties, but then my wife passed away unexpectedly."


    "...You''ve never mentioned that to me before."


    Sherlock raised an eyebrow, his amber pupils slightly widening with interest.


    But he did not pursue the topic here.


    Thete wife of Chief Inspector Edward¡ªsuch significant urrences in the lives of important figures could easily be investigated. Not bringing it up now was a sign of respect for Edward, and also confidence in his own investigative abilities.


    Edward did not offer any further exnations either, but instead came over and passed over today''s edition of the ss Staircase Daily.


    Lying back in his rocking chair, Sherlock sat up to take the newspaper, theny down again.


    He rocked in the chair, his head tilted slightly. He seemed to grow sleepy again after his meal, taking a long time just to get through the front page.


    Edward, who had been standing by the side, had waited for a long time and finally couldn''t help but ask, "Do you see it? Aiwass has made it to the newspapers again, and it''s the front-page headline."


    "I knew about it yesterday."


    Sherlock saidzily, "The moment I walked into the club and saw His Highness, I guessed it. Come to think of it, when we were in school, didn''t we also have a ''Crystal Ballet Shoes'' badge?"


    "Only you had it. I''ve never been interested in music."


    Edward replied offhandedly.


    He was eating a sandwich on the side, waiting for Sherlock to finish reading the newspaper before he asked, "What do you think?"


    "Not good. But not bad either."


    Sherlock threw the ss Staircase Daily aside carelessly, "The assassination of Secretary Raff in broad daylight has had an extremely negative impact. But that''s just an intentional exaggeration of the tense atmosphere.


    "What''s really important is that this event took ce beside Princess Isabel. And that Director Gordon ultimately failed to arrest that professional assassin."


    "Although ording to our investigation of the scene yesterday, Director Gordon''s actions could be said to bepletely correct. But many times, what you actually do is not important... the important thing is what you make people believe you''ve done.


    "In any case, Gordon let a very dangerous assassin escape. It''s already the end of November, and in a little over a month it will be the new year. If this matter is not properly resolved soon, public opinion will turn. An escaped assassin capable of murder and a high-ranking Transcendent is basically an usation against the Supervisory Bureau of negligence. By that time not only Gordon but the entire Supervisory Bureau might be under pressure¡ªhasn''t your Supervisory Court been wanting to reduce the powers of the Supervisory Bureau for a long time now?"


    "Indeed it is his ipetence. But dealing with Director Gordon now would only make people realize that the problem is out of control, causing even more panic and making the situation even more uncontroble."


    Edward said in a low voice, "Therefore, the Supervisory Bureau ns to hold arge-scalemendation ceremony for Aiwass this week to sculpt his achievements and divert the public''s attention."


    "Wasn''t there already onemendation for the incident at the Pelican Barst time?" Sherlock asked, puzzled.


    "They''vebined the twomendations into one. It''s still scheduled for Thursday afternoon. This time, instead of awarding the ''Crystal Cross Medal'', they are going directly for the Holy Sword Medal."


    Edward said solemnly.


    "Wow."


    Sherlock raised an eyebrow: "Under what pretext? The Holy Sword Medal is generally given to warriors who have made meritorious contributions to the protection of the nation or who have earned distinctions on the battlefield, isn''t it?"


    "''For single-handedly discovering and thwarting a Transcendent assassin''s attempt on Princess Isabel''s life''."


    "Ah? It''s be an attempted assassination? And Secretary Raff has be an innocent bystander?"


    The young man with messy curly ck hairzily reclined in a rocking chair and sneered, "That''s not impossible. Let them report it that way for now."


    "...For now?"


    Edward caught the implication in Sherlock''s words: "What have you found?"


    "It''s not an investigation, but rather deduction. This is a truly interesting case, my friend. I thought about it all night yesterday, and didn''t get to sleep until three or four in the morning."


    Sherlock said as he pulled out his notebook, "Let''s start with the most crucial parts of the case, prioritizing them by their urgency and importance.


    "I have finished decoding those documents, which are written in a ciphernguage full of addresses and names.


    "You probably don''t care about the inference process in the middle. I''ll go straight to the conclusion¡ªthe documents found at the scene are rted to a smuggling case at the port."


    "...You mean the ''Sweater Brothers Association'' lead?"


    "Yes. Which means Trade Minister Drost is likely involved with the smuggling case.


    "And I''ve also identified the assassin. That one came from the Order of the Iris Flower assassins known as ''Hawkeye.'' Only they would use such a special weapon. They are remnants of the ck Hawk Duchy''s copse... mercenary types. They may take onmissions from anyone, including attacks on nobles and even royal families of various countries."


    At this point, Sherlock closed his notebook.


    He looked meaningfully at Edward, "What circumstances, do you think, would cause an assassin from Iris Flower to travel such a long distance to brazenly kill the personal secretary of a minister directly involved with the Star Antimony Kingdom smuggling case?"


    "I think it''s for framing someone."


    Edward responded without hesitation: "So, the deceased was positioned with the documents, facing away from the killer, and fell from the second floor to the ground. This suggests that he was more likely delivering the documents rather than fetching them."


    "Oh, your theory does make some sense,"


    Sherlockmented, a slight smile appearing on his lips, "But unfortunately, that possibility does not exist. Because I confirmed yesterday that the notes on these documents and the codenguage we intercepted from the Sweater Brothers Association''s cargo manifest clearlye from the same person. After cracking the coding rule, I sessfully decoded the documents and found that they list one warehouse after another and the corresponding warehouse manager.


    "Thank heavens, I have documents here that Secretary Raff signed in the past. Although he controlled his stroke deliberately, I''m positive it''s the same person who wrote it.


    "So, I thought of a possibility. Someone in control of Minister Drost''s incriminating evidence wishes to expose him."


    "That''s... possible..."


    Edward muttered softly, looking at Sherlock, and asked in a steady, clear voice, "So who do you think it could be?"


    "Analyzing from the aspects of personal connections, motives, capabilities, and alibis," Sherlock paused, "I think it might be your father, Professor Moriarty."

 Chapter 126: Chapter 83 Edwards Showdown

    Sherlock''s words fell, and in that instant, his narrow room plunged intoplete silence. Only the rhythmic, slow chewing of Edward''s sandwich remained.


    After a few seconds, Sherlock said with a smile, "Of course, that would be impossible."


    "Because if the professor were the mastermind behind the scenes, he would not resort to such a simple method, full of ws. He''s already well-acquainted with Minister Drost and has various connections within the kingdom. He could have achieved his goals without showing himself at all."


    While Edward watched him in silence, Sherlock took out a box of matches and a cigar, beginning to rotate the cigar to heat it evenly.


    As he leaned down to tend to his cigar, he said nonchntly, "And the person who is doing this now, her motivation is iplete."


    "The n itself is also quite ingenious. First to assassinate Secretary Raff, then to attack Her Highness the Princess, and by doing so, it naturally exposed the possibility that Minister Drost might be closely involved in the alchemy product smuggling case. And it amplified the social impact to the maximum, making it so that even old Drost couldn''t suppress it with his connections."


    "But on the other hand, if she could devise such a n, why not use a more direct means? It''s as if her goal was never to bring down Drost, nor to cause trouble for the Drost Family; she wasn''t aiming to steal information, nor to stop the smuggling; she wasn''t looking to plunge Avalon into chaos, nor to uphold Justice or the truth."


    "It''s as if her intention itself was ''to expose Minister Drost''s actions,'' and that was as far as she intended to go. To devise such a n, to have such capability to take action, yet to have such a conservative goal. Therefore, I deduce that the person carrying out this n must be acting on someone''s orders¡ªsomeone whose influence in Avalon''s upper echelons iscking, hence the need to use public opinion to achieve their purpose."


    "¡ªLike, for instance, a spy from another country. Considering the hostile rtions between Iris Flower and Star Antimony, I would presume that it could be a spy sent by Iris Flower."


    Sherlock said these words with the smoking cigar in his mouth, exhaling deeply.


    He looked up, his gaze clear as he looked at Edward, "Since you haven''t made a move on me just now... I presume I''m correct, am I not?"


    Edward remained silent, still slowly chewing his food, maintaining his silence.


    "You''ve been chewing that bite of sandwich for nearly a minute now, my friend."


    Sherlock saidzily, crossing his legs.


    He blew a cloud of smoke triumphantly towards Edward''s face, fearless in his eyes: "It seems my earlier spection was correct. The business of the Moriarty Family... doesn''t seem all that legitimate, does it?"


    "¡ªYou''d better stop your investigation, Sherlock."


    The food in his mouth was silently swallowed after a lengthy silence, and Edward''s expression became grim: "Consider this a request from me."


    "...I''m delighted, Edward. You see me as a true friend."


    Sherlock''s lips curled into a smile, the smoke slowly enveloping him: "Based on my trust in you, I will temporarily cease my investigation into ''Moriarty''. All my findings up to now are in the folderbeled with an M on the shelf to your left. There''s a blue envelope on top, marked ''Moriarty''."


    Hearing Sherlock''s words, Edward stood without hesitation and walked toward the bookshelf, reaching into the folder to find the envelope.


    "Is there a copy, Sherlock?" Edward asked.


    "You know I never keep such things, my friend. But I would advise against destroying it outright; it would be best if you opened it right now."


    Sherlock said casually: "Aren''t you curious about when I started to suspect the professor and why I dare to disclose all this to you here?"


    Edward was not a fool.


    His angr face, normally tough, now showed a steel-like silent hue.


    "...Is it because the father suddenly left ss Ind?"


    "Partially. But mainly because of the warehouse explosion case."


    Sherlock replied: "You were too concerned about that case that day. Yet afterward, you didn''t continue to investigate it. You didn''t report to the media, nor mention it to me ever again. I suppose you were afraid I would pay too much attention to it. But because you didn''t say anything, I noticed the anomaly."


    "It was easy for me to find out that the next day, under the pretense of taking Aiwass to school, you visited Dr. William Wayne Wesker at the university. He just happened to be the analyst of the ''Fire Essence''ponent in that case..."


    "What does that prove?"


    Edward retorted: "Or did Dr. Wesker tell you something?"


    He didn''t sit down but remained standing by the bookshelf, slowly opening the blue envelope.


    To Edward''s astonishment, he found that the blue envelope contained only a nk piece of paper.


    "Yes, I have no evidence. But your reaction tells me¡­ I am right."


    Sherlock stood up from the rocking chair and poured himself a ss of cold water.


    With a cigar in his left hand and the ss in his right, he drank down the cold water with a ''gulping'' sound. Evidently, Sherlock was somewhat nervous as well.


    "Actually, it''s because I found myself unable to find any evidence proving Professor Moriarty''s involvement in crime... that I vaguely sensed something was amiss."


    "How can a family from the Founding Families, truly have no slip or hint of wrongdoing after so many years? I find that hard to believe. Whether it''s you, Aiwass, or Yulia... Your adoption records are all too clean."

 Chapter 127: Chapter 83 Edwards Showdown_2

    "And the professor, he doesn''t have a single rtive, no wife, and no records of his parents¡ªit''s just as you yourself just said, you are married. You were even urging me to marry soon. So, hasn''t anyone ever urged Professor James to do the same?"


    "Only adopted children and friends, but no social rtionship closer than that. Not at all, one can''t even find a death certificate."


    Sherlock sighed and picked up his cigar again, speaking calmly, "Don''t be nervous, my dear friend. When I realized that Aiwass truly desired to protect Princess Isabel from the bottom of his heart, none of that mattered anymore."


    "Her Majesty saved my father''s life, and I must repay her. That''s why I''m working for Mr. Kent. I don''t work for Avalon, nor do I submit to the Round Table Hall. I serve only the royal family¡ªor rather, I am loyal only to Queen Sofia."


    "I am not a stickler, Edward. You know me. I''m not after justice or order, I''m just a bit curious about the truth. As long as it''s not something outrageous, I might even help you. So what exactly is it that you must keep in your heart and cannot tell me?"


    "... I don''t tell you because it''s for your own good."


    Edward remained silent for a long time, then shook his head sincerely and said, "All I can tell you is that my father bears no malice toward the royal family. That''s already the limit, you really should stop investigating further."


    Sherlock pressed on, "So we are not against each other..."


    "¡ªThis is not a warning, Sherlock. This is advice."


    Still dressed in the ck suit that resembled mourning attire, the upright Edward spoke in a low and maic voice, "Moths get caught by spiders; the best choice is to stay away from the web. The less you know, the safer you are."


    "...Alright. I trust you, my dear friend. I won''t probe into this matter on my own again without your permission."


    Sherlock shook his head and sighed.


    He still couldn''t figure out what his old friend was worried about.


    But there were still some results, after all.


    At least now there had been a preliminary showdown andpromise between them.


    In this risky engagement, their friendship was not only unblemished... it had even be more solidly established.


    Sherlock felt somewhat relieved, yet also regretful, "I originally thought that you, too, were one of the manipted, just like Aiwass... trying to break free from the shackles of your foster father. But it seems now that you stand on the other side."


    "Wait... you said, Aiwass?" Edward paused, then repeated quietly.


    "Yes, he was previously chosen by Master Yanis as apanion for Princess Isabel. And now that he has saved the princess, it''s likely that even Queen Sofia will want to summon him personally. This must be his n, a way to break free from the chains of destiny... If, as you say, the professor harbors no ill will towards the royal family, then he probably won''t interfere with Aiwass anymore."


    Sherlock shook his head, "If my earlier judgment is correct, and the murderer is connected to the spies of the Iris Flower, I believe the princess was not their intended target. To the Irisflower People, Isabel is Avalon''s best ruler. They wouldn''t want to kill her.


    "From this point of reasoning, the assassin entered the princess''s shadow clearly to evade Director Gordon''s perception. And she heard Director Gordon''s words, knew you would be arriving soon... In the presence of several high-ranking Transcendents, a Transcendent of the Path of Adaptation would generally opt to hide or flee."


    "And she clearly is very proficient in her Shadow Stealth skills, so she would choose ''a person who was certain to leave the venue,'' whose shadow was the most stable."


    That was the wheelchair-bound Aiwass¡ªthis is why Aiwass''s first shot was at his own shadow.


    Although for some reason, Aiwass understood the knowledge of Shadow Stealth... his stance had no issues. This was evident from the second shot alone.


    "Aiwass fired two shots because he actually didn''t know where the criminal was. Firing the second bullet at the shadow of Princess Isabel was a dangerous move. If that shot missed and Princess Isabel subsequently met with misfortune, Aiwass would likely be held responsible.


    "A person with ill intentions would try to maintain their innocence, not engage in meaningless actions fraught with risk. Especially when they are intelligent and had previously remainedpletely out of everyone''s focus.


    "¡ªIt is from this shot that I deduced Aiwass genuinely wanted to protect Isabel.


    "Further reasoning leads to the conclusion that Aiwass had Director Gordon search the second floor carefully before your arrival, with the aim of ''forcing the murderer back to the first floor, where so far no other high-ranking Transcendents were present''. The space on the second floor of the club was too ample, and without the scrutiny of a high-ranking Transcendent, those Inspectors would probably not notice her presence.


    "And at that time, you were about to arrive. Once you reached the scene, there would also be people on the first floor, so she would no longer be able to move. She must have heard these words.


    "So from that moment on, she had to make an immediate decision¡ªwhether to abandon the second floor, which might be intensively searched, and move to the rtively loose and safe first floor.


    "The time given to her to think was very limited, and Director Gordon''s slow search was continuously putting pressure on her."


    "Once the assassin came down from the second floor, the ces she could hide were extremely limited. The first possibility was beneath Aiwass, and the second was beside him near Isabel. Only they would definitely not run, and no one would interrogate them.


    "The ''deductions'' mentioned in the newspapers are all nonsense. Or rather, Aiwass did not deduce at all¡ªmore precisely, what he did was a scam. He was not deducing past truths but actively guiding the future.


    "He had no idea where the assassin was, but like a spider weaving a web, he invisibly manipted that ignorant assassin, step by step, into the trap he had prepared in advance.


    "¡ªI think that should be the entire truth."


    Aiwass was only neen years old this year and had nevere into contact with such things before, nor had any record of using this skill.


    No matter how intelligent, he could not possiblyprehend this knowledge out of thin air. Where could he have learned this skill?


    That leaves only one possibility: from the professor.


    "The only time he was out of the public eye was from the time he graduated from middle school until mid-November. I think it was probably during this period that Aiwass learned the professor''s skills, understood the professor''s ns, and began to oppose his principles... In a way,pared to you, Aiwass may be even closer to the professor."


    Sherlock had some feelings for the professor. Therefore, he did not want to use the word "conspiracy" but chose "nning" instead.


    He confidently said, "Precisely because of this, I am convinced of Aiwass''s intelligence, reliability, and innocence, as well as the fact that the professor has problems.


    "So I am now being frank with you before I truly start investigating. Just as I determined that this matter was not done by Professor Moriarty, for it was too simple for him. If Aiwass were also involved, the true nature of the case could not have been easily seen through by me. For this reason, I deduced that Aiwass''s stance must be diametrically opposed to the professor''s.


    "If there are things you find difficult to discuss with me or cannot say to your father, then consider talking with your brother Aiwass. He is much more intelligent than you think.


    "Or rather, he is far more intelligent than you."


    Sherlock gave a ruthless yet friendly suggestion.

 Chapter 128: Chapter 84: Aiwass of a Thousand Faces

    Aiwass quickly adapted to campus life at the Royal Law University.


    It was now Thursday afternoon.


    Two days had passed since Aiwass wasst featured in the "ss Staircase Daily".


    It waspletely different from the previous time at the Pelican Bar¡ªalthough Aiwass had made the paper, not many people at school knew him.


    That''s because not many students would buy the pricey and serious "ss Staircase Daily".


    The content in the "ss Staircase Daily" was too grave, and most of the news was very brief¡ªfor example, the death of a major figure, personnel changes at the top of a department, the prosperity or crisis of an industry, the adjustments inws and taxes, the interpretation of key policies for the current or following year, and other significant events happening in other countries.


    There was no gossip or fun, nor the serialized novels, short poems and jokes, or intriguing advertisements often found in other newspapers. Moreover, many details of the news were iplete, many major events were only mentioned in a single sentence.


    The words that appeared most frequently in the "ss Staircase Daily" were various "names"¡ªand for the students, they hardly recognized most of them, finding them headache-inducing. The only highlight might be the "Demonic Painting" by Master Yanis.


    So regr students wouldn''t buy such a thing. It wasn''t about intelligence or schrship... If someone suddenly purchased the "ss Staircase Daily", it wouldn''t be for the knowledge or information since they couldn''t understand it. It was either their parents''mand or merely to show off, pretending toprehend.


    At that time, for the students at the University of Law, Aiwass was simply a "stranger who suddenly appeared on the front page of the ''ss Staircase Daily''", and an "other people''s child" at whom they felt enmity.


    After all, both the Pelican Bar and the Demon Schr were very distant matters for these students living in the Red Queen District.


    However, the murder that took ce at the White Ballet Shoes Club on Monday afternoon and the killer who attempted to assassinate Princess Isabel were different.


    This was something that happened right beside them, and many students witnessed it with their own eyes.


    Secretary Raff fell from the second floor andnded at their feet, sumbing to the poison in front of the students; inspectors and inspectors streamed in from all over the city and lined up at the club''s door; the Sky Cavalry in silver-white armor and dragon-headed helmets rode majestic White Griffons, soaring swiftly through the sky...


    ¡ªIf Avalon were to go to war one day, it would probably look like this! the students thought excitedly.


    Contrary to the generally conservative Round Table Hall and the Hall of Silver and Tin, students were passionate about war. Their daily routine was toofortable, too boring, and they were desperate to find something thrilling.


    And this incident was thrilling enough.


    The beautiful female assassin emerged from the shadow of Her Highness the Princess, and the old knight, d in armor and wielding a two-handed sword, chased after her. They fought fiercely in the streets,w magic blocked off the city''s roads, Sky Cavalry aboveunched attacks, thunderps and wind, as sharp as des, rained down, and thunder from ss Ind''s outermost edge rumbled through the clouds.


    The old knight chased her from the Red Queen District to the White Queen District, and then from the White Queen District to the Lohar District. His capacity for action was very limited, and he almost lost her after just two streets¡ªbut fortunately, the Griffon knights followed behind, and Director Gordon also called his own Griffon.


    But once they were in the sky, it became even harder to track her.


    The only clue they had was the "shadow that shed by on the ground where there were clearly no obstructions". As their altitude increased, it became even harder to discern.


    Not to mention, the streets of ss Ind were so narrow. It was really frustrating to chase through them.


    The Red and White Queen Districts'' inhabitants included many Knight Families, priests, elves, rich merchants, schrs, and officials. There were also some distinguished guests traveling from foreign countries.


    The cunning assassin even led them through churches, museums, art galleries, government buildings, courts, orphanages, schools, hospitals, research institutes... Her route wasn''t even straight, but deliberately winding through these ces, diving into the crowds, leading the knights tounch attacks on her.


    But these old knights were not hot-headed fools. They could enter the Round Table Hall, and most were over forty years old. They were past that impulsive age, each one quiteposed.


    ¡ªIf they acted rashly, it was uncertain whether the high-level assassin on the Path of Adaptation would be hurt, but the bystanders would definitely die. And in droves.


    That would be worse than letting the killer escape!


    After all, the assassin had only murdered a low-level secretary. Although she had once fled into the shadows of Her Highness... she had not actually attempted to murder a royal family member.


    The assassin obviously knew what they were wary of, and so she deliberately led them in circles. Relying on her extremely proficient duplication, stealth, and vision deception techniques, she shook off the Supervisory Bureau''s pursuit before nightfall. The only certainty was that the target had entered the Lohar District before disappearing.

 Chapter 129: Chapter 84: Aiwass of a Thousand Faces_2

    ¡ª The importance of Lohar District and the Red-White Queen District is not the same.


    Thus, Lohar District waspletely sealed off. The port was temporarily closed, and even the navy vessels docked for rest were once rmed. An entire six squads of inspectors mixed with arge number of inspectors went from street to street in Lohar District, sweeping until dawn, but in the end, the assassin was still not caught.


    The Supervisory Bureau simply pretended it wasn''t hunting for an assassin but was rectifying thew and order of the Royal Capital ¡ª so they took down no fewer than thirteen illegal organizations'' gathering spots and arrested more than four hundred involved persons. It was quite a significant and impressive operation.


    After all, havinge all this way, they couldn''t very well return empty-handed.


    In the eyes of the public unaware of this matter, this was considered a decisive and special operation by the Supervisory Bureau. But for the few who knew the inside story, the Supervisory Bureau even became the butt of a joke.


    An almost fully mobilized Supervisory Bureau that couldn''t catch a single person ¡ªpared to the fact that they "didn''t catch the assassin," the unnecessarily earnest attitude of the Supervisory Bureau was even more likely to provokeughter.


    However, contrary to this, Director Gordon, the first to give chase, was not punished but was instead rewarded.


    Because his actions in the first instance werepletely correct: not tounch a powerful attack against the assassin, but to first push them away from Princess Isabel.


    Even though this push actually helped the other party to escape safely, Gordon''s primary goal had already been achieved. That was to protect Princess Isabel.


    ¡ª Still, the same sentence applies, if you let the assassin go, then what is ultimately lost is only a minister''s private secretary. But if the assassin were trapped in the club, causing a great ughter, no one knows how many students might die or be injured. Compared to their safety, letting a criminal escape is a more easily epted oue.


    Of course, his reward wouldn''t be immediately issued. But Aiwass had heard from Isabel that Gordon was going to be transferred to the Supervisory Court as a senior inspector responsible for managing and supervising the discipline of all supervisory bureaus in ss Ind.


    From being a director to bing a senior inspector might seem like a demotion, but in reality, it was actually a promotion of one and a half ranks ¡ª and it just so happened that he could continue to manage his previous department.


    Compared to the Supervisory Bureau, which stirred up a hugemotion that the whole city knew about, Aiwass sitting motionless in a wheelchair seemed even more formidable. After all, anyone could see just how much damage Aiwass''s shot inflicted on her. To put it exaggeratedly, it might be that the damage Aiwass caused was all there was.


    The students who had witnessed the "major event" were exceptionally excited, even embellishing the story when boasting about it to other ssmates who hadn''t seen the scene.


    Since there were too many students present at the time, in reality, no one actually saw the full picture of what happened ¡ª at least eighty percent of them didn''t notice the small dagger the size of a pinky finger stuck in Secretary Raff''s back; only those close to him heard Aiwass call for Director Gordon.


    Although the newspapers praised Aiwass tremendously, Aiwass himself was quite enigmatic in interviews, perpetuating the mystique with the attitude of "I won''t tell; you guess."


    Because of this, they attempted toplete this seemingly joyous event with their own imaginations and interpretations.


    Left to their own devices to specte, nearly every student told the story with slight variations. And those who heard the story felt they needed to share it with others. So they looked for people to tell in the second round, borating based on their own recollections...


    ¡ª With various permutations, by the time of the next day''s lunch break, the story had over seventy different versions.


    At lunchtime, nearly every table in the cafeteria was talking about this story. And each table had a different version, as if they all came from different timelines.


    There were the rtively normal versions like "Aiwass was the female assassin''s ex-boyfriend," and "the assassin was Aiwass''s stepmother"; and slightly subtler spections like "Aiwass is a secret bodyguard of Her Highness the princess," and "Aiwass is a Prophet."


    In the end, there were even stories with dramatic twists and legendary plots like "the assassin''s real target was Queen Sofia," "the assassin is a vengeful princess from a former dynasty," and "the assassin is a demon in human form."


    Now it seems some students are even nning to create fan works with Aiwass as the protagonist...


    This time, Aiwass has truly be famous.


    He did get the kindness and recognition from his ssmates, as he initially nned, but in a way different from what he had imagined.


    Now, he had be a part of a thousand-faced urban legend. Aiwass believed that even if a professional spy came to the university to inquire about him, they probably would end up confused.


    How could everyone provide a different answer?


    Was Aiwass really that mysterious?


    In the end, Aiwass gained notoriety, Director Gordon received a promotion, the students present got some good gossip, and those not present had some fun.


    Although other departments were verbally criticized, no one actually faced punishment¡ªKnight''s judgment of the situation had been entirely correct, the assassin was never genuinely preparing to kill Princess Isabel, so Queen Sofia wouldn''t be too fixated on that slippery and elusive killer.


    Even though the incident had caused quite a stir, the biggest damage they had done in this event was probably just to some of the buildings'' walls in Lohar District. And these losses could be entirely ounted for in the operation budget for "taking down thirteen illegal organizations," even leaving a substantial excess.


    Probably the only two who felt sad were Aiden and Isabel.


    Isabel was simply upset that she couldn''t go to the White Ballet Shoes Club.


    The White Ballet Shoes Club was temporarily closed down due to this event.


    Even though Isabel believed Arlen''s saying that it would definitely reopenter, she had finally had the chance to join her first student organization. Yet, before she could make friends or even speak a word to a stranger, the organization closed down.


    Aiden was just ridiculously unlucky.


    As a student who had once encountered the assassin, he was taken in by the Supervisory Bureau for a specialized interrogation twice. Even his "Drac" book was confiscated.


    Even though he didn''t really listen during ss, missing two sses in a row made him somewhat miss them.


    Mainly because Aiden felt a bit anxious: the final exams areing up, how am I supposed to catch up on the sses I missed!


    "¡ªCouldn''t you have juste two weekster?!" heined.


    That way, if I didn''t do well this semester, I could put the me squarely on you when I got home!


    Now with nearly a month until the final exams, being neither here nor there was actually quite distressing.


    And what saddened Aiden even more was that his budding first love had ended before it even began.


    That "mysteriousdy in white who might have had feelings for him" turned out to be a ruthless and heartless bad woman¡ªthis dealt him a heavy blow.


    When Aiwass heard hisints, he just smiled and said nothing.


    Don''t worry, brother. Stay calm...


    ¡ªSooner orter, you''ll get used to it.

 Chapter 130: Chapter 85 Mrs. Minas Fortune Telling Shop

    Today''s afternoon ss was one of the few specialized courses that freshmen at the Theological Seminary could ess.


    Therefore, Aiwass and Lily did not wear the usual blue and white school uniform, but instead donned the Seminary''s distinct uniform. It was the white robe set that looked and functioned almost exactly like the priest''s attire, except for the absence of holy ranks.


    ¡ª Because this ss was called "Prayer Studies."


    It mainly taught the etiquette and procedures for issuing different prayers to the Nine Pir Gods, using different materials on different asions based on various purposes and needs.


    Scriptures, prayers, offerings, rites, taboos...


    This ss had no difficulty whatsoever; the only challenge was the massive amount of memorization. Because there was so much to memorize, it took from the first semester of freshman year to the third semester of sophomore year to cover all the content.


    At the time, Bishop Mathers had not taught Aiwass the "pray" Divine Art, simply because it was not teachable. The main purpose of the Theological Seminary was to focus two years on teaching these prospective priests how to pray to the Nine Pir Gods¡ªaside from the effect of recovering mana, some ritualistic Divine Arts also had to be used through prayer.


    Although priests were mainly affiliated with the Candle Master, they were ultimately priests serving all Nine Pir Gods. In other words, they also needed to understand and manage the faith, heritage, and rites of the other eight Pir Gods. During festivals rted to the other gods, priests would change into their garments and hold corresponding ceremonies.


    Thus, priests were among the first professions in the nine Paths to have in-depth contact with knowledge from other Paths.


    And the lecturer for this ss, "Miss Maya," seemed quite young.


    She had deep chestnut-colored curly hair tied into a ponytail that rested on one shoulder. She wore a red bishop''s robe identical to Bishop Mathers'', her pupils a gentle, watery light blue.


    Although she asked the students to call her "Miss," she looked to be only in her twenties. Her lively and cheerful disposition was not only well-liked by the students, but also made her appear much younger.


    Evenpared to Lily, who was always serene and gently smiling like an elder sister, Miss Maya seemed even younger.


    The students also liked this lecturer, who, nominally, was a teacher but acted more like an upperssman.


    But only Aiwass knew... unless there was a surprise, this must be the youthful effect brought by the Fire Rite Skill. Chapter Discover:


    She must truly be a "Miss," a woman who was married and possibly had children. It was the Rite of Fire that allowed her body to regenerate to its prime state, healing the pains and aging she had endured. It brought her back to the youthful body of her girlhood... and with her physical rejuvenation, her mental state and character were likewise revived.


    "...Huh?"


    When Miss Maya first saw Lily pushing Aiwass into the ssroom, she paused momentarily, looking at him in surprise.


    A blue-haired girl who passed by Aiwassughed and exined, "This is Aiwass, Miss Maya. Did you see the ''ss Staircase Daily'' the day before yesterday? He''s the big Detective of that day~"


    "Mr. Aiwass''s legs are not very good, so he needs to use a wheelchair. Why not... give him a diagnosis?"


    "That shouldn''t be necessary, Ang..."


    Miss Maya shook her head: "You go to your seat first."


    ¡ª Why would he need my diagnosis? If it could really be healed, he can just use the Rite of Fire himself, can''t he?


    Maya looked at Aiwass again with a peculiar curiosity, performing a strange gesture respectfully: Maya extended her hand and lightly tapped above her head and above each shoulder, forming a triangle in the air.


    Aiwass, in turn, just smiled warmly, brought his hands together with thumbs crossed, bowed his head, and closed his eyes to pray.


    Seeing this, Maya''s attitude towards Aiwass noticeably improved.


    ¡ª This gesture was specially taught to Aiwass by Bishop Mathers after discovering his rapid mastery of the Fire Rite Skill and his encounter with the Path of Devotion, allowing him to perform a progression ceremony and reach the second Energy Level.


    Transcendents of the same Path could sense the Path aura and the approximate intensity of others in their proximity. This meant that all Transcendents of the Path of Devotion in the school could detect that Aiwass had stepped into Transcendence and hadpleted a progression ceremony to reach the second Energy Level.


    This was essentially the graduation standard.


    And the gesture taught to Aiwass by Mathers was a secret sign of identity confirmation among the clergy of the Nine Pirs Divine Church. It was to ensure that Aiwass would not be treated differently upon returning to the school.


    Maya''s gesture meant that she served the Church and held the rank of a bishop with a mitre.


    It was her querying Aiwass: who guided you on the Path of Devotion to obtain this?


    After all, not all priests came from the Theological Seminary.


    How many people could graduate from the Theological Seminary each year¡­ Many township churches followed a mentorship system. They taught hands-on from a very young age, and upon learning, they would automatically join the Church. As long as one was a "Bishop," they had the authority to evangelize and teach those with the qualifications for the Path of Devotion the Sacred Arts.


    There was another possibility: that no one taught them. They could have be proficient by studying the mystical texts of theology on their own, and after grasping the Mystical Skills of the Path of Devotion, embarked on this path. In such a case, his profession might not even be "Priest." Miss Maya''s attitude towards Aiwass might then not be so friendly.


    Because that would mean acquiring the supernatural powers corresponding to that Path and enjoying its social status without fulfilling the duties or following the rules.

 Chapter 131: Chapter 85 Mrs. Minas Fortune Telling Shop_2

    ¡ª¡ªIt was as if someone had obtained the Mystical Skills of the Path of Authority from a Codex Book of the Path of Authority or other types of mystical literature. Then, it''s possible that a high-ranking Inspector might mistake him for one of their own, sensing the aura of the Path of Authority from this person. This could lead to the emergence of "false Inspectors," "false Priests."


    There''s also a more serious problem, which is that one can only set foot on the same Path once. As soon as someone gains an Extraordinary Profession from any Path, they can only "advance" and cannot turn back¡ªif Aiwass had obtained a different profession from the Path of Devotion, he would absolutely be unable to be a Priest. ording to the rules of the church, the "Sacred Arts" carefully selected by the church are not to be revealed casually.


    If Aiwass had someone to introduce him to it, then he would definitely be able to understand Miss Maya''s covert message.


    And Aiwass''s response with his gesture meant that he was just a "Prayer"¡ªhe had not received the Mitre, nor held a clerical position, and was currently not working for the church, only having been taught by someone.


    This was of no consequence. Whether he worked for the church or not, Maya didn''t care. As long as it was not another profession from the same Path.


    Maya felt ashamed for her subconscious suspicions, so she said affectionately, "You can sit next to me, Mr. Aiwass. It''s inconvenient to take the wheelchair up the stairs, isn''t it?"


    "Then I''ll trouble you," he said softly.


    "Miss Maya," Aiwass replied softly.


    And while waiting for the other students, Maya sat in her own chair, chatting quietly with Aiwass, "I heard about the case you solved, and I thought you had stepped onto the Path of Wisdom... I didn''t expect that you really are a Priest. Moreover, to have stepped into the second Energy Level at such a young age...


    "May I ask which Bishop guided you?"


    "Bishop Mathers," Aiwass answered.


    Hearing this, Maya''s eyes suddenly widened in disbelief. "Eh? Mathers?"


    "What''s wrong?"


    Aiwass caught the anomaly in her emotions.


    "Samuel Mathers?" she asked in return.


    "Right."


    Aware that Bishop Maya might know Mathers, Aiwass asked, "Do you know him?"


    Maya hissed softly, her expression bing somewhat subtle.


    She sneakily nced at the students and noticed they were all quietly looking over, closely watching the activity near the lectern¡ªit seemed they had be used to following along with Aiwass for a juicy story.


    So Maya lowered her voice and covered her mouth with her hand.


    "My name is Maya Mathers. He''s my brother."


    ...That was rather unfortunate.


    Aiwass''s expression also turned somewhat strange.


    Although Maya didn''t know, Aiwass was well aware that Mathers teaching him the Sacred Arts had actually just happened the previous Friday. The following day was the fifteenth, which meant that Aiwass had advanced immediately after progressing.


    It was shockingly scandalous!


    It wouldn''t really be a problem, just too high-profile.


    Although saying this might not be believed by many... Aiwass still preferred keeping a low profile.


    But thankfully, Maya provided a response that allowed Aiwass to breathe a sigh of relief:


    "¡ª¡ªHowever, he and I had fallen out a long time ago, due to his romantic issues. It''s been ten years since I''ve talked to him."


    She said they had fallen out, but it was clear that because Aiwass was Samuel''s apprentice, she became even closer to him.


    This is hardly a falling out. It seems more like a fit of pique...


    "...So, why?" Aiwass was somewhat curious.


    He also felt a touch of gossiping desire: "Did the Bishop run into some emotional issues?"


    "That day, Samuel brought back a girl who was eleven years his junior, iming her to be his wife and that they were already married."


    Maya frowned deeply, "At that time, Samuel was 29, and the girl was only 18."


    "I remember Bishop Samuel is from Avalon, right?"


    Aiwass counter-questioned, "An 18-year-old girl should be of age to marry, shouldn''t she?"


    "Yes, men and women can marry at eighteen. The problem is... don''t most people date for several years before they get married? The girl was only eighteen when she married, so when exactly did Samuel meet her?"


    At this point, Maya, agitated, gritted her teeth and pped the table: "He even said that he had just met her not long ago and it was love at first sight! Do you think I would believe that? Should my parents believe it?"


    "...It''s not entirely impossible, is it?"


    Aiwass''s expression was a bit subtle. It seemed that the concept of a "sh marriage" didn''t exist in this era.


    However, this did make Samuel seem somewhat suspicious...


    But soon, Maya''s words turned Aiwass more serious: "Of course, love at first sight is possible, but the problem is, weter hired a detective to investigate ¡ª she''s not from Avalon."


    "She is one of the Irisflower People, ultimately from the Path of Beauty. Back then, Royal Law University''s Sixth Faculty had not yet been established. An Irisflower Person, instead of studying in her own country at Western University, traveled all the way to Avalon to study theology and followed the Path of Beauty. Moreover, she married her tutor just as she reached first grade."


    "¡ª¡ªDo you think that''s reasonable? You don''t even have to think carefully; doesn''t it look strange from every angle!"


    "...Indeed, it doesn''t seem very reasonable."


    Aiwass frowned, also realizing that something was off: "But Bishop Samuel doesn''t seem like such an impulsive person..."


    "Exactly! That''s what we all say."


    Maya whispered, "So we kept talking to Samuel, asking him to calm down, to separate from that girl for a while! But he wouldn''t listen. In the end, he moved out of the house and rented a ce on his own. However, I heard he was recently elected as a Clergy Councilor, so at least there is no need to worry about his livelihood..."


    "What''s his wife''s name?" Aiwass asked.


    "Mina. I''ve forgotten her maiden name, but she should now be called Mina Mathers... If I calcte correctly, she should be thirty-five this year."


    "She runs a Fortune Telling Shop, selling fortelling tools and doing divinations for others. But she''s not a Prophet from the Path of Adaptation, so what fortelling ability can she have? Nothing but a fraud... I really don''t understand why Samuel likes her so much."


    "When you have time, you might as well go and see them. After all, you have a tutor-student rtionship with him, and visiting your tutor is quite normal. Now that you''ve suddenly brought it up, I''m a bit curious about what that woman is like now..." Chapter Find:


    Maya sped her hands together and quietly pleaded with Aiwass: "Mr. Aiwass, please help! I have a Codex Book from the Path of Devotion that I really like, which I can give to youter... Of course, if you really can''t find the opportunity, it''s all right. As long as you try to ask my brother, I will give you the book¡ª¡ª"


    As Maya said this, Aiwass''s pupils suddenly trembled.


    It wasn''t for the reward.


    It was because, hearing that name, he suddenly thought of something.


    ¡ª¡ªThe game''s store, called "Mrs. Mina''s Fortune Telling Shop."


    That name, Aiwass would definitely not forget. He believed that no yer would forget it.


    ...Well, I have to say, if I get the chance, I do need to take a look.

 Chapter 132: Chapter 86 Sculptor Lars Graham

    Avalon, White Queen District.


    It was a building that, from the outside, looked quite in, more like a warehouse than a ce of residence.


    In fact, this was the sculpture studio of Lars Graham.


    He was hunched over, holding a bone-white cane, standing attentively in front of a two-and-a-half-meter-tall sculpture, whose upper half was nearplete,boriously lifting his head to look at it.


    In the air, white translucent chisels and hammers continuously appeared, emitting crisp striking sounds. The dense and numerous tapping noises reminded one of the sound of a torrential downpour. Without the old man making any visible movements, the sculpture was carved at an extremely rapid pace, as if a video was fast-forwarded.


    ¡ªLars Graham was 74 years old this year.


    The old man''s eye sockets were deeply sunken; his eyelids were purple and shriveled, and his darkened face was full of wrinkles. His fine, lusterless white curls were almost all gone, leaving only a thin fringe. Perhaps due to the lighting, the murky shadows in his brown pupils seemed somewhat yellowed. For Master Graham, simply lifting his head or even just opening his eyes was quite an effort.


    To this date, the once-great artist had aged and withered to be like a fragile shadow.


    He seemed as though if he went to sleep, he might never wake up again.


    The silk robe he wore was patterned so intricately it resembled a Persian carpet¡ªdominated by dark yellow, ck, and red colors, with a plethora of borate and dense designs that could dazzle the eyes at first nce. Very few could pull off such a garb; it was so ostentatious that no matter how beautiful or handsome the owner, the clothes would certainly steal the spotlight.


    But this suited Lars Graham just fine.


    His entire being was like a withering flower, continuously copsing inwards. He was stooped, his shoulders drawn in, his head lowered, and his legs bent... with legs even thinner than a girl''s arms. Wrapped inside the luxurious robe was what seemed not to be a real body, but merely a shell encasing the soul.


    That posture could remind one of a withered leaf butterfly trembling in its wings amidst a downpour.


    Suddenly, the sound of carving ceased abruptly.


    The sound of the chisel hitting the stone, however, still seemed to echo vaguely in one''s ears, as if an illusion.


    Without turning his head or body, the old man spoke in a low, drawling, hoarse voice, "What do you want here... Croix."


    As his voice fell, a lovely and artistically tempered girl suddenly emerged from the shadows behind him.


    Croix was covered with scars and dust. Her body was almost a blur of flesh and blood, some of which was even charred ck on the surface.


    But in reality, these wounds were just frightening to look at, appearing as if she had rolled on an iron te a few times. In fact, most of the inner parts were already much better, at least no longer worsening. This included her right arm, which had nearly been severed, now reattached and nearly healed.


    "Dean Graham, I''vee to get some herbs," said Croix, her voice dry and husky. "And if there''s something to drink, that would be even better... It''s almost martialw outside, so I didn''t dare go into their herb stores to buy herbs. But I still need a bit more to heal."


    She called him ''Dean'' because Graham was the current Vice-Dean of the Westide University Art Academy. Although he had been invited to Avalon to carve a sacred statue for the Queen, his position as dean had not been taken from him.


    "The herbs are in the cab to your left," the old man sighed, leaning on his cane with difficulty, turning around in slow steps.


    Above his forehead emerged a third eye, cold and indifferent, its jade-made pupil impassively sweeping over Croix.


    "Not too bad for an injury, ''Caramel,'' Miss," chuckled the old man, the tone of his voice indistinguishable between sarcasm and schadenfreude. "Compared to the trouble you''ve caused, your injuries are far too light."


    "That''s because I''ve used up all my life-saving gadgets!" She gritted her teeth, her voice filled with resentment as she spoke, "I still don''t understand... How the hell did that Moriarty guess I was in there?"


    While talking, Croix searched through the herbal cab taller than herself, pulling out drawers of needed herbs, dumping all the contents onto the table.


    It wasn''t just "a dose" amount; it was a massive quantity that would be harmful to normal people, enough to be drunk for at least a dozen days. Even if made into food, it would hardly be possible to finish in a day.


    But Croix devoured them voraciously, swallowing all the herbs down.


    Without the need for decoction or extraction, the "potency" within the herbs was drawn out and purified by the Path of Adaptation. Soon, her entire body''s wounds emitted a faint green glow, and the injuries slowly healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    It was as if the effect of continuously using these herbs for a dozen days had been concentrated into just fifteen minutes.


    This was the skill of the "Herbal Healing Method," effective only on herself.


    Croix''s wounds healed faster than she ingested the herbs. After she finished eating them all, the horrific injuries on her body were almostpletely healed.


    Then, she began to vomit violently, expelling lumps of ck mud mixed with chunks of flesh, which smelled putrid and awful.


    That was the potency-extracted herbs, along with waste material produced inside her body while hastening the healing. After vomiting, Croix visibly felt much better.

 Chapter 133: Chapter 86 Sculptor Lars Graham_2

    "...Ah, back to life."


    Miss Croix let out a long sigh of relief, then hurriedly turned to Graham behind her and said, "Dean Graham, I will help clean this upter!"


    The elderly man didn''t pay her any attention, just nced at her expressionlessly and walked towards his desk with his bone-white cane.


    Miss Croix quickly followed, pouring a ss of water for Graham.


    Old Graham nced at her and spoke slowly, "Is there anything else?"


    "I just want to get some revenge before I leave, let off some steam... so I''d like to ask for your advice," she said.


    Miss Croix huffed. She clearly still felt somewhat unreconciled... mainly because of the loss of her assets, which pained her heart.


    "I''ll just remind you that The Association''s task for you is alreadypleted, Miss Croix."


    Graham held the water cup and drawled in Irisian Language, "If I were you, I''d immediately hide out in the countryside. As soon as things die down a bit, I''d go straight back to my country."


    "They won''t catch me."


    Having been pursued for several days, Miss Croix apparently had full confidence: "The Inspectors from the Path of Authority are much more stupid than the Transcendents from the Path of Love and Beauty. If I n more carefully this time, lie in wait where Aiwass sleeps, and camp out without eating or drinking for a day or two, I''m sure to seed," she said.


    "To me, this sounds more like a trap."


    The old man took a sip of water and said with a gloomy tone, "You''re too arrogant, Miss Croix. Although you entered the fourth Energy Level at twenty-four, you still haven''t formally entered the fifth Energy Level now. Withoutpleting the advancement ceremony, there are still many in Avalon who could take you down."


    "The Grand Arbitrator, the Grand Adjudicator, the Grand Guardian, the Grand Justice, and Master Yanis from the Holy Nation. Just on the surface, there are already at least five Transcendents confirmed to have reached the fifth Energy Level and are willing to serve the royal family. If you encounter any one of them, you''ll certainly not be able to escape."


    "What''s more, even the Arbitration Hall hasn''t made a move. They have the power of arbitration, and in Avalon, they can exert the full strength of the Path of Authority... Knights without power,cking honors, pose little threat. Your reckless actions, I believe you''ve deviated from the Path of Adaptation. After you return, I will report this to the leader."


    Who could have known that this student he had once taught for a semester, who could never grasp the Path of Beauty... now thrives after switching to the Path of Adaptation?


    But too smooth advancement and never failing an assassination had now somewhat unbnced her mindset.


    This high-profile behavior is not the principle advocated by the Path of Adaptation. It''s also the reason her abilities had started to stagnate.


    "...Do you mean to say that you don''t oppose my action now, Dean?"


    Seeing that her former superior wasn''t opposed to the idea, Miss Croix was somewhat surprised.


    She disyed a sweet and obedient smile, ttering, "You too are a ''Master.'' Both Transcendents of the fifth Energy Level of the Path of Art, Master Yanis took over two hundred years to be a master, while you became a ''Master'' in less than forty years..."


    "Heh... useless, I''m not swayed by that."


    But the old man justughed deeply, "Let me make it clear beforehand, no matter how close to sess you get, I will not intervene. I have taken on a more important mission and cannot expose myself. And since Yanis is watching me, it''s also not good for me to act."


    "Just in case, I still have to ask... where do you n to lie in ambush?"


    "I haven''t thought about it. How about his home?" Croix replied offhandedly.


    "¡ªDon''t go there."


    Old Graham rejected the idea without hesitation: "His butler Oswald is very dangerous."


    "Does he have a fifth energy level?"


    "It''s hard to say, but it''s very likely. Oswald doesn''t have a ''profession'' per se, but rather inherited the old system used by the longevity species from the old times, before ''professions'' existed. His path ispletely mixed and unsystematic, strength scattered across multiple paths, showing no clear trajectory. No one knows which paths he has adapted to or what strengths he possesses."


    "But based on the abilities he has shown so far, he has at least a fourth energy level strength of the Path of Adaptation. And since elves are experienced and well-informed, he most likely knows about shadow stealth. Going there, you would undeniably be walking to your death."


    The old man gazed at Croix with his ruthless and critical eyes, like a critic scrutinizing another''s art piece, and with a voice marked by strange cadences he intoned, "If there''s a chance you could be captured alive... I will kill you."


    "Now, tell me again. Where will you lie in ambush?"


    "...Hmm."


    She was surprised to find the elf butler so formidable.


    "Then I must do it outside. Although I haven''t read the Avalonian newspapers, I''m sure he must have be famous by now. If he were to be assassinated by me, it would definitely make the headlines."


    Croix answered lightly, "To buy time to escape, I must avoid the public eye. So I have to kill him swiftly in a ce where no one can find him and leave enough time to get away..."


    "In that case, my suggestion is that you go to the White Ballet Shoes Club again. Take a look at his awards ceremony," the old man replied.


    "...But isn''t it already almost five o''clock?"


    "No matter. He has an award ceremony at the Supervisory Bureau this afternoon. Even without a dinner, he won''t be back until at least five-thirty. Considering the long journey, he won''t reach his dormitory until at least six or seven o''clock. If there''s a dinner, he might return even two or three hourster... Maybe he''ll have a drink."


    "ording to my information, someone wants to take action against him this afternoon... Just two hours ago, two demon schrs from the Noble Red Society infiltrated the University of Law. The statues of great figures ced at the school''s entrance have told me this. They are not weak, but I believe their assassination will certainly fail. The measures taken to guard against you can just as well be used by people from the Noble Red. Because he must also know that you''re still alive."


    "On the other hand, you can also observe Aiwass''s methods and bottom line."


    Although he didn''t approve of the condescending n given by the young assassin codenamed "Caramel," the old man still made a sound suggestion based on his own abundant assassination experience from his youth: "There is no better opportunity for assassination than this."


    "He has dealt with enemies who wanted to murder him and has received honors that are almost impossible to attain at his age, so he is bound to be rxed and proud. After that, go directly to his dormitory to ambush him."


    "After the socializing, he''ll be tired; a full meal will make him drowsy, and alcohol will depress his consciousness. You might not even need ''Hawk Feather''; just apply the poison to his lips, and he will die from poisoning in his sleep. This way, no one will realize immediately that he was poisoned... You will have plenty of time to escape from ss Ind."


    "As expected of the Dean!"


    Croix was genuinely convinced: "Then that''s what I''ll do!"

 Chapter 134: Chapter 87 Isabel Is Somewhat Happy

    After ss, a line of students walked along the road.


    They were all schoolmates who had grown close to Mr. Aiwass in the past few days and were eager to visit the award ceremony. They hoped Mr. Aiwass would take them to see the excitement and the world.


    And Mr. Aiwass had generously agreed.


    "Honestly, Mr. Aiwass, I have some doubts..."


    Aiden, walking in front, turned his head andined, "Did the Supervisory Bureau seal off the White Ballet Shoes Club because they wanted to use it for free as the venue for the award ceremony?"


    "That might well be the case."


    Ang, beside him, said with a smile, "After all, it''s the end of the year, and the Supervisory Bureau''s budget has been pretty tight recently."


    "My mom told me that the budget allocated to the Supervisory Bureau each year has to be spent, but it can''t be overspent by too much. So, at the end of the year, they''re either trying hard to spend money or trying hard to save it... anyway,st year''s budget was definitely off."


    Her words held considerable weight.


    After all, this girl with the long, dark blue hair, who always had a smile on her face, had a mother working in the city''s Supervisory Bureau II.


    The city district was northwest of the Red Queen District and directly opposite the Lohar District to the southeast of the White Queen District. Compared to Lohar District, which adjoined the port of departure, it went further ind. Continuing northwest from the city district, one would leave ss Ind and reach Garden City.


    It was thergest district on ss Ind in terms ofnd area and also the most populous and busiest district. Even three Supervisory Bureaus were necessary to ensure basic coverage. In contrast to the poor public security of Lohar District, the security level in the city district was quite good, with abundant resources, stable prices,prehensive and well-equipped public services. Also, because it neighbored Garden City, the environment was quite good as well.


    In a sense, this was the main area for the ordinary citizens of Royal Capital Avalon to work and live in¡ªit was not as chaotic and busy as the Port District, nor as quiet and solemn as the Red-White Queen District, which was closer to the center of the ind.


    Public horse-drawn carriages had recently been introduced there, with one carriage being able to carry nearly thirty people. This had made travel much more convenient.


    asionally, students would go to the city district for fun¡ªof course, it wasn''t as exciting as Lohar District, and the prices were quite a bit higher, and there was much less of those shady things. But there were always students who were too scared of the Strangler Party in Lohar District.


    "The budget for the Supervisory Bureau this year has mostly been transferred to Lohar District. Inspectors willing to transfer to Lohar District get an immediate sry increase of eighty percent of their original ie, with a guarantee of another thirty percent increase within a year."


    Ang sighed, "Although Lohar District is quite dangerous, they''re offering too much."


    "It''s mainly because the Strangler Party in Lohar District has be increasingly crazy recently," another male student from the Theological Seminary interjected with a sigh. "I heard they have even started attacking the Inspectors now, though I don''t know if that''s true."


    "It''s most likely true."


    Ang shook her head, "More precisely, they''ve found Inspector bodies that have been ''strangled.'' Their clothes werepletely stripped off, all belongings stolen. Even their eyes and tongues were taken."


    At this point, the girl with the blue hair blushed slightly: "And the body they found this time was quite severe... even his privates were cut off while he was still alive."


    She turned to look at Mr. Aiwass behind her: "What do you think, Mr. Aiwass?"


    "This indicates that the Pelican Bar is not the only sales point for ritual materials."


    Mr. Aiwass''s calm voice came from not too far behind them, exining in as refined a manner as possible: "This is a form of superior substitute for ritual materials. Usually, one would use materials from a male goat, especially a ck male goat. Some Demon Schrs might smoke them with dried sage, dry them, and consume them to restore their life force and Dark Attribute Mana. And using a Transcendent as material, more Mana can be recovered..."


    Although Mr. Aiwass tried to be tactful, everyone fell silent for a moment.


    Soon after, Aiden gasped quietly, as if feeling a phantom pain.


    "Where did you read about this, Mr. Aiwass?"


    Ang, her face slightly flushed with curiosity, asked, "Did you see it while you were at the library?"


    "¡ªThis is knowledge from ''Ordinary Ritual Studies,'' students."


    A familiar voice came through, causing them to instinctively shrink their necks and look towards the source of the sound.


    The person who suddenly spoke up from the front was Miss Maya, who had left the ssroom immediately after ss ended. Compared to her previous attire, she had only added a silver mitre on her head adorned with three small candles and had put down her bag carrying the teaching materials and textbooks.


    After ss, Mr. Aiwass hadn''t gone straight to the White Ballet Shoes Club but had instead returned to his dormitory to pick up the "Key Holy Sword" that Bishop Mathers had lent him.


    The assassin had not been killed. With the life force of the Path of Adaptation, she should recover by today.


    In the midst of the crowd, Mr. Aiwass couldn''t use the power of the Shadow Demon. It would be troublesome if she came for revenge.


    Therefore, Mr. Aiwass specifically picked up the key.


    He was now able to spend 33 points of Fire Attribute Mana to use the Holy Sword Skill once a month. At the very least, surviving shouldn''t be an issue¡ªwouldn''t there be some important figures attending the award ceremony?


    This was the Holy Sword Medal!


    Among all the medals of Avalon, it was one of the top three in rank. In peaceful times, it was even rarer. Not to mention Mr. Aiwass''s surname was Moriarty... surely a few old Knights from the Round Table Hall shoulde, right?

 Chapter 135: Chapter 87 Isabel Is Somewhat Happy_2

    In that case, as long as Aiwass was able to hold on, someone would definitelye to save him.


    It was precisely because Aiwass took a small detour that Miss Maya, who had also gone back to retrieve something, was able to get ahead of them.


    "¡ªMiss Maya."


    The students greeted this kind and gentle lecturer with polite respect.


    With an easy smile, Maya casually reached out and grabbed at the air, an action that resembled more of a cat''s pawing than a wave.


    "If it''s from a Transcendent and long enough, one can indeed forgo the air-drying process. A fresh version is quite good, and can be used as a medium to summon demons. However, in that case, the required quantity isparativelyrge¡ªat least one or two pieces won''t suffice. You need enough to form a circle, and within the circle there still has to be space to ce offerings and write runes. Conservatively estimating, you''d need about a meter''s length to be enough."


    Unlike the teenagers who were just eighteen or neen years old, the real age of Miss Maya was a mystery, but she obviously did not shy away from this topic, and at times even showed a tendency towards being yfully mischievous: "This course is an elective, which you could start taking as early as next semester. Not only you, but I think those students who intend to be Inspectors should also take this course, as it would be beneficial for them in discerning Demon Schrs hidden amongst the crowd.


    By then, you all will have to repeatedly touch and confirm various ritual materials. There''ll be specific parts from both male and female bodies, as well as organs like the heart, brain, and liver. You''ll need to know which are specimens, which are merely organs, and which are ritual materials¡ªand which are human and which are animal. This will all be on the test."


    Ai, don''t be shy... It''s like being a doctor. After touching them enough times, you''ll be able to tell what animal the materialse from with just a touch of your hand inside the ck box. Priest is a profession with diverse knowledge and a wide field, and you will understand this truth sooner orter."


    "Did Miss Maya learn this too?" Aiden curiously asked.


    "Of course," Miss Maya smiled and walked into their midst, "I too graduated from here, and my father, mother, and grandfather were all Priests. My parents met thanks to Lord Candle Master, and they had a beautiful love. Therefore, they decided to have us all follow this path, too."


    "What about if the teacher had childrenter on?" Ang suddenly asked.


    "I already have children, my dear," Miss Maya replied, ruffling her hair, and said something surprising in a very natural manner, "She''s already eight years old and goes to elementary school in the Red Queen District."


    "Ah, I know about this!"


    Getting excited about the topic, Aiden added, "Miss Maya visited my family''s antique shop before, and she was leading a little girl at the time."


    "Her name is Vivian. If there''s a chance, I''ll take you all to see her."


    Upon mentioning this topic, a tender expression appeared on Miss Maya''s face as if it were illuminated with Light.


    Aiwass lingered in the crowd, silently watching this scene.


    ...For some reason, he had suddenly thought of Isabel.


    He no longer remembered what his biological mother "Annie Alexander" was really like. Now when he tried to recall his mother, the first image that came to his mind was the version yed by "Lulu." That was the clearest memory in his mind.


    He didn''t know what kind of Transcendent Annie had been, or if she was one at all. But she had indeed given up her life for Aiwass to live, drawing away the Hook Demon.


    Aiwass was grateful to her. It was a mother''s sincere, strong, and selfless love for her child.


    Their group quickly arrived at the White Ballet Shoes Club.


    The ce was still under a lockdown with Inspectors guarding the door. Every now and then, adults in suits could be seen entering from the outside, heading straight for the White Ballet Shoes Club.


    Today, the club only allowed entry to some influential figures, in addition to media journalists and foreign guests. But Aiwass exined gently to the approaching security that these people were all with him, considered as family and friends... nning to bring them all inside together.


    "...Wait, Aiwass! Wait for me!"


    As Aiwass''s wheelchair was gliding down the ramp and was about to enter the door.


    A somewhat aggrieved call from Isabel suddenly came from behind him, "What about me!"


    Lily stopped pushing the wheelchair and turned Aiwass around halfway.


    Aiwass raised an eyebrow and saw Isabel, whom he hadn''t seen for two days, running over with her skirt lifted.


    She wasn''t wearing her school uniform today but rather a white formal dress. Although not as dressed up as when Aiwass attended the banquet that day, she still wore as many essories as possible, given the need for easy movement. Around her neck was her favorite pearl ne, carved with a rose out of citrine.


    She rushed over anxiously, her light-golden hair that fell to her waist shimmering in the sunset.


    Aiwass''s lips curved up as he looked sidelong at Isabel and couldn''t help but let out a lightugh, "You know... for such a small gathering, a princess like you shouldn''t need my invitation toe in, right?"


    Isabel was taken aback.


    Her running steps gradually slowed until she came to a stop right in front of Aiwass.


    "...Because I want to sit with them."


    As though finally finding an excuse, Isabel''s eyes lit up, "I am your friend, just like them¡ªso I am friends with them too!


    "I want to sit with my friends, I don''t want to sit in the first row!"


    "Thene along, Isabel."


    Aiwass said with a chuckle, and Lily deftly turned the wheelchair back around. She had be even more adept now, and even without Aiwass''smands, she could interpret his intentions.


    Isabel hastened to catch up, just in time to hear the next sentence, "Today, you are no longer Princess of Avalon. You are just a personal friend whom I invited. I''ve kept the spot closest to me for you... if we encounter any danger again, I will protect you."


    ...What about me?


    Aiden widened his eyes on the side.


    ¡ªDidn''t you say before that it was for me? I even wanted to steal a scene!


    But after looking at Aiwass and then at Isabel, he wisely chose to remain silent.


    Whereas Aiwass tilted his head slightly and whispered to Isabel beside him at a volume only they could hear, "You see, our original agreement has been fulfilled in the end. We have entered the sealed-off White Ballet Shoes Club again, and I have also found you friends who share the love of music and dance.


    "Compared to those questionable characters in the club, these prospective priests should be more trustworthy friends, no?"


    Upon hearing this, Isabel suddenly blinked and slightly tilted her head to look at Aiwass.


    Did his words mean... he doesn''t want me to be friends with strangers?


    Or did I misunderstand?


    For some reason, Isabel, who had always longed for friends, was now feeling inexplicably happy.

 Chapter 136: Chapter 88 The Principles of Transcendence Path

    Today''s White Ballet Shoes Club had a slightly differentyout than usual.


    All tables on the first floor had been pushed to the corners, and the counter where Arlen and the bartender usually stood was empty. The chairs were arranged into three groups, neatly lined up in front of and to the left and right sides of the stage.


    Several groups of journalists gathered in small clusters in the gaps between the sets of chairs, whispering among themselves, with several shmps standing by. Thergest camera, almost as tall as a person and resembling a giant ordion, stood on the ground; there were also smaller cameras mounted on tripods that could be held in the hand.


    There were not many guests seated at the moment, and sitting in the most central spot in the front row was a fully armored knight, helmet included. No one was sitting beside him; the circle of chairs around him remained empty. Nheless, he sat upright and motionless in his ce.


    The knight upied two seats by himself. On the seat next to his right handy a two-handed, silver-white sword. Its handle was very long, constituting over a third of its length, with a long, narrow, but thick de. The de was not t, but rather a thin hexagon¡ªlooking less like a "sword" and more like ance with a sharpened edge.


    This was a weapon that favored thrusting over shing. Clearly unsuited for urbanbat... it was one of the mostmonly used weapons by the Sky Cavalry when mounted on Gryphons.


    It rested in a thick leather scabbard, its surface ted with silver-grey, iid with numerous tiny diamonds that formed the cursive word "Honor" under the lights.


    This was the "Sword of Honor," temporarily bestowed upon Sky Cavalry retirees who had participated in wars and achieved at least three major victories. The word "Honor" on the sword was personally designed and inscribed by Queen Sofia, the diamonds meticulously embedded one by one by the royal craftspeople.


    This sword, granted by the Queen herself, encapsted a potent force of authority. If its inheritor didn''t be a member of the Sky Cavalry, the sword would be reimed after seventy years; if a descendant chose to join the military, they could directly enter the Avalon Royal Air Force Academy with this sword¡ªsignifying an honor passed down through generations.


    Although his face was not visible from behind, the sword had already revealed the identity of the silver-armored knight. He was Director Gordon, who had just been transferred.


    Under Aiwass''s signal, Lily pushed Aiwass''s wheelchair slowly over.


    Aiwass merely watched Gordon from a distance¡ªhe hadn''t even approached, and Gordon had already sensed his gaze and turned his head.


    Upon recognizing that the look came from Aiwass, the old knight nodded slowly. It seemed to be a friendly gesture, yet also one of acknowledgment.


    But he then immediately noticed Princess Isabel by Aiwass''s side. The old knight promptly rose and removed his helmet, nging to one knee on the ground.


    "O Dragon of the Silver Crown, I pay my respects to you, your Highness," Gordon said in an old and deep voice that, despite the noise of the club, was distinctly clear.


    Those who, due to the crowd and din, had not noticed Aiwass immediately were now drawn by Gordon''s voice.


    Realizing that Aiwass had arrived, the journalists instinctively wanted to take photographs.


    But before they could get their cameras ready, they noticed Princess Isabel following close behind Aiwass and were startled.


    Taking unauthorized photographs of Aiwass was nothing serious; although he was an adopted son of the Moriarty Family, he had not inherited the family armor.


    In Avalon, armor itself was a symbol of authority¡ªthose in armor had to be respected, but even knights allowed into the Round Table Hall, if they went out without armor, meant they were traveling as civilians. They could be photographed or drawn, touched physically, greeted without formality, and didn''t require people to make way for them.


    But Isabel''s case was different.


    Although Isabel, who had forsaken the sacred traditions of Avalon to follow the Path of Beauty, was not as highly regarded as her brothers, she was still a true princess.


    If they were caught snapping photos of Isabel, they probably wouldn''t make it to tomorrow... Their doors might receive a knock tonight from a pair of white gloves in a ck suit.


    Those present either knelt and ced a hand on their chest in a knightly salute or bowed while touching their chests to Isabel. The greetings, while not in unison and each unique, sounded one after another.


    If it had been in the past, Isabel would now be so nervous she''d freeze up.


    But now, she simply took a deep breath, mustering courage.


    Giving the crowd a gentle smile, mimicking Aiwass, she waved her hand gracefully, "Good afternoon, everyone. Please rise. May the Dragon of the Silver Crown bless you all."


    "When the ceremony begins, you may take photographs," she said in her crisp, pleasant voice. With that, the salutes ended.


    A somewhat strange thought popped into their minds.


    Perhaps... the princess who seldom ventured out wasn''t as shy and inarticte as the legends suggested?


    She was actually quite poised, wasn''t she?


    At that moment, Aiden, who had been sticking close behind Aiwass, ran forward under everyone''s gaze and boldly took the chair away from Gordon''s left-hand side.


    Lily gracefully reversed Aiwass''s wheelchair into the cleared space, and Isabel sat to Aiwass''s left. This prevented those who had wanted toe over to schmooze from daring to take the seats.

 Chapter 137: Chapter 88 The Principles of Transcendence Path_2

    The result was that the seats in the middle of the first row, from Princess Isabel to the left, were all empty.


    Therefore, Mr. Aiwass took the initiative to arrange for his ssmates to sit here. Even so, the seat to the left of Princess Isabel remained empty, with Ang next in line.


    As Mr. Aiwass took his seat, the people who had been standing in the corners of the club chatting quietly also consciously found their seats and sat down. The person sitting one seat away to the right of Director Gordon was a middle-aged man in a white suit with neatly cut blonde hair.


    Wearing a white suit meant he had graduated from the first division and was working in a legal profession. He was either a judge not in his robes or awyer.


    He extended his hand to shake with Director Gordon, whispered a couple of sentences, and then sat down.


    To his right, it became much more mixed, with people wearing all sorts of clothing. Mr. Aiwass''s elder brother, Edward, sat in the seats on the left group, nodded at Mr. Aiwass from afar, and did not specificallye over to greet him.


    Director Gordon also put his helmet alongside his chair next to the sword.


    He looked hesitantly to the side and whispered a greeting, "Mr. Aiwass."


    "Director Gordon,"


    Mr. Aiwass nodded at him and replied with a soft chuckle, "Or should I now refer to you as Inspector Gordon?"


    "Either is fine. It''s just a job after all,"


    The old Knight obviously did not take his promotion seriously, "Inspectors do what inspectors can do, and directors have their own duties. It''s all about protecting Avalon, just with slightly different job content."


    "I do have a question for you, Mr. Aiwass, if you could clear up some confusion for me. What exactly is your rtionship with Princess Isabel..."


    "Ah, we are friends,"


    Mr. Aiwass answered with a smile.


    Having said so, he turned back to exchange a nce with Princess Isabel.


    Princess Isabel had also heard the topic and leaned forward to emphasize, "We are very good friends, Mr. Gordon."


    Mr. Aiwass gently patted her arm, signaling Princess Isabel to sit back down.


    For some reason, Princess Isabel seemed to be in a very good mood. She was not only bolder than usual but even appeared a bit giddy¡ªif it weren''t for the presence of so many people, she might have even begun humming a song.


    "Yes, Your Highness. I understand,"


    The old man with dark blue pupils answered without hesitation.


    He looked at Princess Isabel, who had her hand on Mr. Aiwass''s wheelchair, his firm and weathered face filled with unsaid words.


    In the end, however, he swallowed whatever he was going to say and lowered his head, pretending he had seen nothing.


    The club, which had been quite lively and even noisy, quieted down quickly after the arrival of Mr. Aiwass¡ªor rather, Princess Isabel. In less than ten minutes, everyone had taken their seats.


    Soon, other than the reporters and photographers who were still standing and Inspectors and Inspectors who were standing in corners, there were no more standing in the hall. The doors then closed tightly, and blue and white runes appeared on the walls.


    Director Gordon was the only one in the room wearing armor, and even those in ck suits were few. Those in white suits ounted for about a fifth of the gathering, and the rest were in suits of other colors or in entirely different attire.


    Most of them were officials¡ªaside from civil servants and officers, there were schrs, priests, professors, and high executives ofrgepanies. Mr. Aiwass also saw his mentor, Professor Bard.


    Even more people were gathered on the second floor.


    They were onlookers who, without special invitations, coulde to watch as long as they were adults dressed in decent formal attire.


    Earlier, Aiden had found his father on the second floor of the club, excitedly waved at him, and pointed him out to Mr. Aiwass. He was a mild-mannered, pot-bellied, small-eyed businessman, white and chubby, which frightened the middle-aged man into waving back urgently, gesturing for him to be quiet.


    At this moment, something stirred within Mr. Aiwass.


    Because just now, the Shadow Demon had woken up.


    [My master...]


    The hoarse and malevolent voice arose from the depths of Mr. Aiwass''s heart.


    [I sense it, the little thief who stole the shadow power is nearby¡ª]


    ...That assassin?


    Mr. Aiwass narrowed his eyes slightly.


    "You really dare toe?"


    The assassin from "Hawkeye" is pretty bold.


    This time waspletely unlike Monday''s¡ªthere were plenty of high-ranking Transcendents present this time. And having learned from thest lesson, they had the Legal Mage on-site cast seals when the doors were closed.


    Or was it that she just came to surveil him?


    Mr. Aiwass touched the heavy key hanging at his waist, feeling calm.


    He was not afraid of her in the slightest this time.


    On the contrary, he was even somewhat eager¡ª


    ...if you don''t make a move, won''t I have carried this key for nothing?


    [My master... may I intervene this time? I mean, if your life is in danger...]


    The voice of the Shadow Demon became anxious and agitated.


    "First you tell me, where is she?"


    Mr. Aiwass asked in his heart.


    So the Shadow Demon marked its target¡ª


    It shared a portion of its power with Mr. Aiwass. Even a mere level one Shadow Affinity could amodate a little bit of the Shadow Demon''s characteristics.


    So Mr. Aiwass gained the temporary ability of "shadow vision":


    His pupils dimmed slightly, as if covered by a thin, translucent ck veil.


    In his sight, the entire space darkened. The once ck shadows turned into transparent grey, and the colors of those hiding within the shadows deepened even more.


    Mr. Aiwass could see quite clearly, the female assassin was hiding right under the massive camera in the first-floor lobby, asrge as a handcart, quietly concealing herself within the shadows.


    "No need."


    Mr. Aiwass discreetly withdrew his gaze and calmly responded in his heart, "There''s no need for you this time, Shadow Demon. Just watch how I handle this."


    [...Very well, master]


    The voice of the Shadow Demon gradually became calm and cold but made its hoarse, mature female voice sound clearer, more like a human''s.


    [Then I shall lie in wait in silence... ready to observe]


    It implied that if Mr. Aiwass found he couldn''t beat them and then called for it, it might not be so obedient.


    It craved the freely offered sacred flesh, but after all, demons are proud creatures.


    Since he already said he didn''t need it, the demon wouldn''t rush forward to help.


    "Of course."


    Mr. Aiwass''s mouth curled into a smile, "I won''t disappoint you."


    He knew that if he could handle the situation now, such as defeating an enemy more powerful than himself, or even merely surviving an encounter with an enemy... the Shadow Demon would actually respect him more. Solving problems without relying on the Shadow Demon''s power would prove the strength of his spirit and his exceptional talents.


    That was a recognition from the demons themselves, distinctly different from the nearly irresistible temptation wrought by the Nurturing Skill that targeted demons.


    Just as Mr. Aiwass was willing to challenge the Evil Sorcerer Veronica in his frail form.


    Through careful and detailed nning and schemes, to confront the strong with a weak body, and to emerge victorious or bite fiercely into the enemy''s flesh... this was the core principle of The Path of Transcendence.


    And this required him to have enough "talent" and "courage."


    The principle of The Path of Transcendence was that of rebellion and victory.

 Chapter 138: Chapter 89 The Holy Sword Appears!

    The presenter of this award ceremony was none other than Inspector Gordon, who had recently transferred to the Supervisory Court.


    He put his helmet back on and slung the Sword of Honor across his back. His silver-white armor made him look holy and solemn.


    "¡ªMay the Silver-Crowned Dragon protect our noble Queen, long may she reign."


    Old Knight Gordon stood at the center of the stage and proimed loudly.


    His voice boomed, clear even without a sound system, echoing throughout the entire club and even outside: "In the name of Queen Sophia Du Lac, I hereby follow the ancient tradition and bestow upon the warrior Aiwass Moriarty the Mark of the Holy Sword."


    He personally attached the silver-white Holy Sword badge to the right chest of Aiwass. Then, he gave him a military salute.


    Afterward, he drew the shining silver de from its scabbard and gently ced it on Aiwass''s shoulder.


    "I swear to be worthy of this honor, I will fight for Her Majesty the Queen."


    Aiwass dered, "God save the Queen¡ªever victorious, basked in glory."


    His voice became clear and powerful, a stark difference from his usual gentle and amiable temperament, revealing a mature and reliable side.


    As he maintained this posture, apuse erupted below the stage. Photographers began rapidly taking pictures from all angles.


    Brilliant shes lit up the stage, momentarily turning the two figurespletely white.


    Beyond the two on stage, the pping crowd below also needed to be photographed.


    Thus, as photographers took rapid shots from every angle, the audience also smiled cooperatively and began a sustained apuse. The apuse in the club venue thundered on and on.


    Unlike other medals.


    Because recipients of the Holy Sword Medal usually earned their honors on the battlefield, the presenter also had to be a military person.


    ording to the original etiquette, the presenter should kneel and perform the knightly ritual during the awarding, carried out by the direct superior of the recipient''s unit.


    However, Aiwass was in a wheelchair, appearing weak and unable to use his legs; and he wasn''t a military person,cking a superior.


    Therefore, after the Supervisory Bureau specifically consulted the Minister of Ceremonies, the minister tactfully expressed that Gordon could present the award¡ªthis was also an effective way to negate the negative reputation of the Supervisory Bureau.


    ¡ªThis scene was captured. After people saw it in the newspapers, they would think that the Supervisory Bureau had a good attitude about the matter.


    Although it was unknown whether the im that "Director Gordon ultimately didn''t catch the assassin" was true, this scene made it clear that it was likely false. Otherwise, how could Gordon be the one to present the award to the meritorious?


    Since Gordon was promoted and presenting an award, that person must certainly have been caught! It''s just because it involved secret intelligence, so it wasn''t publicized!


    "...Eh?!"


    But just then, a photographer suddenly eximed.


    Although the ceremony had beenpleted smoothly and what remained was just tying up loose ends, his exmation still caused many dissatisfied people to turn their heads and nce at him.


    However, they quickly understood why the photographer had eximed.


    In the direction he was photographing¡ªat the very back of the seats on the left side, behind a man who was continuously pping with a vacant look¡ªa tall and slender white shadow emerged.


    It was like a butterfly struggling out of a cocoon. It shook its limbs, raising its four mismatched and uneven arms.


    Its upper body resembled that of a hunchbacked, emaciated man. Its ribs werepletely protruding outward, looking sharp and ferocious.


    And both its abdomen and back were covered in taut white skin, and a giant head, twice the size of an average person''s, was erratically covered with the features of several people. Unlike a human face that points in one direction, these features were evenly distributed on all four sides of the skull.


    Its two legs, not yet fully emerged from the man''s back, were thin and tall, and its joints were inverted, more like those of a goat than a human.


    Was that... some kind of demon?


    Just by looking at its form, the journalist felt his breath stop abruptly.


    A cold and damp feeling of fear surged over him, causing his teeth to chatter uncontrobly. He, paralyzed and unable to speak as if electrocuted, continued to press the shutter with twitching fingers.


    The demon was evenrger than the man who served as its vessel! No one knew how it managed to get inside him.


    "¡ª[Still]!"


    "¡ª[Arrest]!"


    "¡ª[Exorcise]!"


    The very next moment, the Legal Mages noticed it.


    But their decrees, without exception, all failed. Only the man who had be the vessel deted and copsed to the ground, breathless.


    As for the white demon, it moved at an extremely fast pace, like a bolt of lightning¡ª


    It wasn''t walking on two legs, but rapidly crawling with six arms. It even left afterimages, unnatural like a sped-up video, as if frames were missing from its movements.


    "¡ªIt''s an Aberrant Limb Demon! Keep your distance!"


    Gordon noticed it immediately and, with a roar, raised the sword he had used to award Aiwass.


    ```


    As his status rose, the silver mes bursting from his sword''s de were even more intense than the days before.


    The weapon he held in his hand seemed not a sword, but a torch. The entire stage was illuminated by his light, and the demons hissed with the smoke of burning flesh.


    Gordon''s movements were swift, and with one thrust, he aimed for the demon''s chest.


    But the Aberrant Limb Demon moved with uncanny agility.


    It left behind an afterimage, easily evading the fatal thrust. Its six arms suddenly stretched out, two of them reaching up to grab the chandelier. Swinging like an ape, it elongated its goat-like hooves into sharp spears, impaling the two inspectors who charged in first.


    After swinging for a moment, the chandelier fell directly down, hurled straight at Aiwass. Gordon pushed Aiwass aside¡ªhis wheelchair sliding out like a drift, while Gordon himself was engulfed in the dust and smoke.


    Of course, he wouldn''t be injured for such a reason.


    Within the smoke, the Aberrant Limb Demon wrought havoc without the need for sight.


    It constantly extended its exceedingly long arms or goat feet, piercing through the chests of those who approached, breaking necks, or gouging out eyes.


    Gordon''s battle cry resounded intermittently in the smoke, exchanging blows with several of the demon''s limbs. Sharp, dazzling silver light, like crescent moons, sliced the stage to pieces. However, the limbs of the Aberrant Limb Demon were so sturdy that Gordon''s attacks barely scratched the surface, and the demon healed almost instantly.


    The inspectors immediately protected Isabel, trying to get her to leave first.


    While the crowd upstairs was fleeing in panic, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man calmly mixed in among them, muttering something under his breath.


    Amidst the screams, the walls on the first floor suddenly turned into crimson flesh and blood.


    Tentacles, the color of internal organs,shed out, briefly entangling the inspectors who had been at the edge of the walls.


    On the other side, a ss jar filled with eyeballs was suddenly thrown down from the second floor.


    Edward immediately looked up and scanned the second floor, noticing this right away. Just as the jar took flight, he stretched out his right hand toward it and shouted, "[Return to Owner]!"


    The ss jar immediately stopped falling and instead began to flow backward, heading towards the astonished brte girl.


    She watched in horror as the jar flew towards her, reaching out her hands in an attempt to catch it.


    Inside was the "Eyes of Fear," capable of throwing the entire first floor into a state of panic. And if she failed to catch it...


    Just then, a fireball flew over with a roar, shattering the jar.


    It was a me summoned by Miss Maya¡ªgolden-red mes burned fiercely, incinerating the smoky eyeballs to ashes.


    Maya''s right hand slowly gathered another, evenrger fireball, ring malevolently at the person.


    "I invoke the Amber, the divine nine, the peak of excellence, the god of perfect eternity¡ªgrant me the Amber me."


    Bishop Maya chanted softly, and the fireball in her hand gradually turned a yellowish color. The leaping mes seemed to freeze in ce.


    The brte girl was about to escape when suddenly she found herself stiffened, unable to move. It turned out a Legal Mage had noticed themotion and, despite struggling against the tentacles, had managed to cast a [Still] decree.


    The golden mes engulfed her, hitting her precisely without affecting anyone nearby.


    Her piercing screamsted only a moment before the fire faded away, and she turned into a hideously featured stone statue.


    ncing at her indifferently, Maya once again gathered mes in her hands.


    "I invoke the Lord of Scalefeather, the divine six..."


    This time she did not offer a limited instant prayer but instead stood amid the crowd, hands joined,mencing a full incantation.


    "¡ªBe careful, Aiwass!"


    But Gordon''s cry of rm interrupted her prayer.


    She looked up in astonishment, her gaze turning to the corner where Aiwass sat.


    Just as the Aberrant Limb Demonunched a sudden attack on Aiwass...


    Aiwass, seated in the wheelchair, had somehow produced an ancient-looking Holy Sword¡ª


    It had a crimson red hilt. The de burned with intense mes, shining with dazzling holy light. Pure attributes of light and fire pulsated, visibly rippling through the air.


    It was the Holy Sword, the Red-Handled Sword, conjured from the Holy Sword Skill spell stored in [The Key to the St. Genevieve Chapel] after being infused with light and fire attributes.


    That was a golden "Sacred Weapon," orded with the holy attributes of warding off evil, sharpness, toughness, and lightness¡ªa whole four attributes.


    The most important of these were "lightness" and "warding off evil."


    The former allowed Aiwass, with his limited strength and confined to a wheelchair, to swing it with ease, and thetter was most vital...


    The moment the Holy Sword appeared, a silent and holy atmosphere spread out, as if the ce had been transformed into the Holy Temple. The fear in people''s hearts was also soothed somewhat.


    And the movements of the Aberrant Limb Demon slowed under the radiance of this light; its strength began to wane.


    Seizing the moment when its movements slowed, Aiwass swung the Red-Handled Sword.


    Like a hot knife through butter, he easily severed the arm that the Aberrant Limb Demon had extended!


    ```

 Chapter 139: Chapter 90: War Correspondent Croix

    Hiding in the shadows, Croix was taken aback.


    Although she had known beforeing that the Noble Red Society nned to exact revenge on Aiwass¡ªthe scale of this retribution was way toorge, wasn''t it?


    Princess Isabel was still inside, and there were arge number of officials and businessmen. The Supervisory Bureau and the Supervisory Court were also present... were they abandoning all pretense?


    Before, Croix had wondered how they were going to assassinate Aiwass with such tight security around here?


    But when she saw the Aberrant Limb Demon being forcefully summoned back using a sacrifice, she started to lose herposure.


    Great, Aiwass was surely not going to survive this one, and it would not be her turn to perform the assassination.


    The problem now was that she might not be able to escape either.


    An Upper-Level Demon was at least a fifth energy-level creature. There were probably fewer than a handful of fifth energy-level Transcendents in the whole of Avalon who could confront them head-on and win.


    The Aberrant Limb Demon was the weakest of the Upper-Level Demons. Due to its low intelligence andck of particrlyplex abilities, it was the easiest to make a pact with and the mostmonly known Upper-Level Demon.


    Even Croix wouldn''t dare to provoke the Aberrant Limb Demon.


    Its limbs and organs could deform at will, meaning an assassin''s "vital strike" was essentially ineffective against it.


    It was also immune to curses and toxins, highly resistant to both decrees and petrification, and added to that the strength to match Gordon''s and the ability to match Croix''s speed, as well as the vigorous energy that hardly ever tired and a powerful life force that could regenerate indefinitely unless a limb was severed...


    The Aberrant Limb Demon may not have the other Upper-Level Demons'' peculiar andplex special abilities, but it hardly needed them. This was strength in its simple, brute form¡ªthe type of enemy that assassins most hated to encounter: impossible to outrun, impossible to ovee, impossible to kill, impossible to withstand.


    Unless Croix could sessfully advance to the fifth energy level, being targeted and pursued meant certain death. This was far scarier than the Supervisory Bureau.


    So when she saw the Aberrant Limb Demon, her first instinct was to run fast.


    If the Aberrant Limb Demon roamed chaotically, passing by Croix, it could easily pluck her out of the shadows.


    But she couldn''t even run away!


    Because those damned Legal Mages had gone and sealed the walls... She used to have tools specially made for breaking barriers, but she had used them up a few days ago. Now, she had to wait for them to lift the seal before she could leave. The problem wasn''t too big, after all, Princess Isabel was also trapped, so they had to let her out, right?


    But she soon gave up the thought.


    Because those Demon Schrs had obviously set up the ritual here in advance, sealing the walls and activating a barrier to prevent entry and exit. Even the Legal Mages who had ced the seals couldn''t undo them...


    Not to mention the ordinary people on the second floor, even Princess Isabel couldn''t escape for the time being. The only one who could easily slice through the Demon Wall was Gordon of the Sky Cavalry, but now he was entangled with the Aberrant Limb Demon.


    "You Avalonians really are useless!"


    Croix thought bitterly, "Do you really need me, an Iris person, to take action?"


    Obviously, a spy had infiltrated the ranks of the Supervisory or the Inspectors preparing the venue. While cing the seals on the wall, he had prepared the Demon Ritual in advance.


    That''s how prepared Demon Schrs were.


    For Transcendents with the profession of Demon Schr, encounter and ambush battles were not at the same intensity.


    ...Given the situation, she had to find the summoner or the Contractor of the demon while the Aberrant Limb Demon was restrained.


    Indeed, she was no match for the Aberrant Limb Demon, but that was if she faced it alone¡ªan assassin had assassin''s methods.


    The Aberrant Limb Demon didn''t have the teleportation ability like the Hook Demon. Its sudden appearance meant it was either just summoned by someone or called back to its master''s side with a sacrifice.


    And it clearly had a master.


    The attack priority of the Aberrant Limb Demon usually favored normal people over the disabled, and the healthy over the sick. The younger and healthier a person was, the more likely they were to be attacked. Given Aiwass was wheelchair-bound, under normal circumstances, the Aberrant Limb Demon would definitely not attack him first; thus, it must be manually controlled.


    This control had a dy; it couldn''t allow it to speak or make overlyplex movements...


    Its limb deformation speed was much slower than that of a normal Aberrant Limb Demon, and its reaction speed was also significantly slower. Otherwise, after a few exchanges, Gordon would have been skewered. There''s no way they could fight back and forth as they were doing now.


    The controller, after all, was human, without the innate ability to manipte bodily transformations to dodge attacks at will. Nor would their reaction speed match that of the Aberrant Limb Demon. For a demon like this, having a brain was clearly a downgrade. But without a brain, precisemands couldn''t be issued, and it could only be let to attack indiscriminately with its hatred and loathing for healthy humans.


    But even if Gordon could hold on for a while, he wouldn''tst long.


    If hispanion, the Gryphon, were still by his side, and he could take to the air for hit-and-run tactics, perhaps they could hold the enemy back for a few hours.


    But, as a cavalryman, a member of an air force unit, he now had to stand his ground alone, fighting the Aberrant Limb Demon head-on to protect the numerous civilians in the club venue. It was also because the Demon Schr wasn''t yet ustomed to the Aberrant Limb Demon''s body. Once he got used to it, Gordon''s defeat would be inevitable.


    Croix had to kill the demon''s Contractor before Gordon was defeated. Since the seal had been ced, he must also be inside.

 Chapter 140: Chapter 90: War Correspondent Croix_2

    The demon that had already signed a contract would be immediately forced to return once its contractor was killed.


    So, with so many people on the second floor, how to discern who the summoner is?


    ... What a joke, she wasn''t an Avalonian, why should she distinguish?


    As long as they looked like it, just kill them all.


    Of course, she had to be sure first but couldn''t make the first move.


    She would have to wait until Gordon and Aiwass were killed, then she could make her move and kill all the suspected targets. Otherwise, she would have trouble escaping herselfter.


    She didn''t want to be chased again¡ªthis time she didn''t have any life-saving artifacts with her, she couldn''t be impulsive. She needed to be even more cautious thanst time. Once the people here were mostly dead, she could turn around, kill the Demon Schr and then make a run for it.


    Thinking this, Croix took advantage of the chaos to slip out from under the shadows of the cameras and quietly moved among the crowd, making her way to the second floor.


    Demon Schrs usually worked in pairs. She easily found the one who was the apprentice.


    ¡ª The jar returned to her hand by the spell was called "Eyes of Fear". It was a ritual spell made with twenty fresh human eyeballs of those who died in fear. Once activated with dark attribute mana and shattered by an external force, everyone within a thirty-meter radius would instantly fall into intense fear and chaos, running around or attacking each other.


    Although it was a very low-level ritual spell, it was quite practical. Even if a high-level transcendent could exempt themselves from the spell with their willpower, the chaos it caused to others was enough to disrupt the situation instantaneously.


    Croix had one such jar before. She bought it from the wild elf bartender at the Pelican Bar before it was sealed shut.


    Used correctly, this thing couldplete very high-level assassination tasks.


    But a few days ago, in order to escape, she used it almost pointlessly...


    ... But are you sure you can just throw it out there with no problem? Aren''t these things usually set up as traps?


    Croix thought to herself.


    If she threw down this jar, the lower-level transcendents below would be done for. But throwing the jar from this height, even if it was not bounced back by a spell, she would definitely be caught in the fear herself.


    Doesn''t she think about how many meters there are between the first and second floor? So young, huh? A newbie?


    ... I see, she was meant to be sacrificed?


    Specifically sending an apprentice who knew nothing of the mission details¡ª did her dear mentor think he could still make a getaway? Demon Schrs didn''t have any means to hide themselves, how could he possibly escape from ss Ind under the Gryphons'' watchful eyes?


    Or is it that there''s someone inside the Royal Capital who could provide temporary shelter and protection for him?


    Ah, it must be the Minister of Commerce.


    So it''s you... Are you in a hurry? Then I guess I should take some credit for this...


    With these thoughts, Croix turned her gaze to the other side of the second floor.


    This young apprentice had also exposed something else¡ª that her mentor should be in a symmetrical position to her, at least thirty meters away. Including the distance thrown, that could extend to forty-five meters...


    Lurking in the shadows, she had more or less pinpointed the area where the mentor was.


    And at that moment, she suddenly noticed that the Aberrant Limb Demon seemed to be anxious for some reason.


    As if sensing a threat, the target shifted from Gordon to Aiwass. It took two sword strikes from Gordon, spurting two sprays of blood as a price, in a determined effort to attack Aiwass, who was away from the battlefield.


    "¡ª What are you doing, demon!"


    Hiding in the shadows, Croix thought with frustration, "Try a little harder, and Gordon will be dead! Once the suppression stops, any priest here could just touch him with an Illumination Art, and he mighte around!"


    Just as she was contemting whether to hurl a poisoned dagger at Gordon''s back while he was receiving treatment, she suddenly froze.


    For she saw a brilliantly radiant light burst forth,pletely enveloping the club!


    Aiwass had pulled out a Holy Sword, gushing with fire and light, and easily severed the encroaching arm of the Aberrant Limb Demon!


    The demon let out a pained howl like that of an injured wolf and quickly retracted. Hissing ck smoke rose from the wound, and golden-red cracks spread slowly from it like a spiderweb.


    ...That was a Sacred Weapon!


    Only a Sacred Weapon could sever the flesh of an Upper-Level Demon so effortlessly!


    So, this was his trump card!


    Croix''s pupils shrank, first feeling a wave of relief that she had not acted rashly¡ªthen a strong desire for greed welled up in her heart.


    ¡ª"I want it! I so want it!"


    She was just one step away from reaching the fifth energy level, having in over fifty nobles and high-ranking Transcendents along the way. Yet, in all the people she had seen, only the leader of "Hawkeye" possessed a Sacred Weapon!


    As greed began to take root in her heart, the emerald light of the Path of Adaptation in Croix''s soul... started to tint with a shadow-like darkness.


    That was the influence from the Path of Love.


    And Croix clearly saw that on the opposite side of the petrified Demon Schr apprentice, a in-looking middle-aged man suddenly cried out in pain, his body shuddering violently, as if he had been shocked awake from a nightmare!


    Without a doubt, that man was the Contractor!


    Croix took note of this. And she wasn''t the only one who did.


    Edward, who had been watching from the second floor, immediately noticed him, and with a cry of [Capture], hoisted him into the air!


    The other Legal Mages, though unsure of what was happening, immediately cooperated with Edward''s spell, subjecting the middle-aged man to Decree Spells.


    A gathering of Legal Mages is incredibly frightening.


    Unless one ispletely immune or too fast to lock onto, immunities are virtually non-existent once the number of Legal Mages increases ¡ª


    [Still],[Silence],[Capture],[Search],[Shackles],[Cage]...


    Though the Legal Mages subconsciously refrained from using lethal Decree Spells, the middle-aged man was instantly wrapped inyers of spectacr luminous effects, utterly controlled!


    He couldn''t even make a single move before his body was bound by dense, silver-white chains and manacles, unable to budge.


    It looked like they had sessfully captured the enemy, which made the Legal Mages subconsciously breathe a sigh of relief.


    But only Bishop Maya gasped in rm and urged loudly without hesitation, "Kill him now, immediately!"


    Before her words had even finished, she saw the Aberrant Limb Demon, now missing an arm and slightly decreased in size, suddenly raise its head and let out a furious howl like a wolf.


    The next moment, its speed increased manifold ¡ª


    It did not avoid the wheelchair-bound Aiwass but, as if seeking revenge,unched a thunderous attack on Aiwass, the one who had just inflicted a severe blow on it!

 Chapter 141: Chapter 91 The Completely Convinced Shadow Demon

    Aiwass was already prepared.


    He wasn''t really disabled. At this distance, the instinct-driven Aberrant Limb Demon would definitely prioritize attacking him.


    It was virtually impossible for him to hit the Aberrant Limb Demon¡ªwith its reflexes, it could easily dodge even gunfire. How could Aiwass, who had never learned swordsmanship, possibly hit it?


    The Aberrant Limb Demon was immune to curses, so the Severe Coughing Spell enchanted on the "Noble Red" ring was ineffective against it; it was practically immune to decrees, and its speed was too fast for Legal Mages to capture it; it was also immune to petrification, so Miss Maya''s Amber me was ineffective as well.


    But even without exposing the Shadow Demon, Aiwass had already figured out how to deal with it.


    The moment he resolved himself, a golden-red glow ignited at the bottom of his pupil, and his left hand lightly touched the Holy Sword.


    Hiding in the corner, Isabel''s pupils suddenly constricted upon seeing this.


    ¡ªIt really is Mr. Fox!


    Her right hand reached out instinctively, and she was about to blurt out that voice¡ª


    But the next moment, Isabel''s mind went nk.


    The Aiwass seated in the wheelchair was pierced through the chest by the Aberrant Limb Demon, whose right hand had be extremely long and narrow!


    His wheelchair rolled backwards rapidly, hitting Lily before bouncing back. Lily, caught off guard, was knocked away by the wheelchair, but what truly paralyzed her was the sight of the talon piercing through Aiwass''s back.


    But Aiwass hadn''t died.


    Because, before being attacked, he had already begun using the "Rite of Fire" through the me of his Holy Sword as a medium!


    Therefore, the instant he was attacked by the Aberrant Limb Demon, he had partially healed his own wounds.


    Maya instantly recognized it¡ªthis was a technique mastered by priests proficient inbat, preemptive healing!


    Prepared healing before a teammate or oneself gets injuredpleting the healing at the moment of injury, thereby minimizing the impact of the strike. You wouldn''t faint from the shock, nor pause in thought from severe pain. To all appearance, it would seem as though you had tenaciously withstood the attack.


    This technique didn''t require special training, only the ability to predict the enemy''s actions.


    And Aiwass understood the Aberrant Limb Demon too well¡ªhe had even used the demon''s body during advanced rituals. That Demon Schr who had made a pact with the Aberrant Limb Demon didn''t know it as well as Aiwass did.


    Knowing he would take an attack from the main body of the Aberrant Limb Demon after he had sliced off the decoy with one sword strike, he decided to simply use his own body as a trap to lure the opponent into attacking.


    This instinctive action also conformed to the principles of Transcendence and the Path of Devotion. Aiwass felt the power of the Path filling his body continuously, enhancing his perception, willpower, and vitality.


    Just as he had hoped, he remained conscious after withstanding the inevitable hit through preemptive healing; Aiwass knew he had already won¡ª


    He immediately pressed his left hand, which had been cut by the Holy Sword, onto the Aberrant Limb Demon''s arm. Merely touching the de had sliced open his palm, and blood flowed out. He, who was using the Fire Rite Skill, was fortunately not cauterized by the me at the wound.


    Just like every person who had been pierced through the chest by the Aberrant Limb Demon, struggling in vain... futilely pressing down on their own wounds, pressing down on the demon''s arm, hoping it wouldn''t pull out. But in the end, it was a vain hope.


    But Aiwass was different.


    The moment his injured, bleeding left hand touched the Aberrant Limb Demon''s arm, its aggression plummeted.


    It was the "Shepherd''s Nurturing" aura, momentarily stimted by searing oneself with holy fire!


    Although Aiwass''s mastery of dual paths was unbnced at the moment, preventing him from properly channeling the Art of Herding, the aura of sanctified flesh and blood was akin to nectar for the Phantom Demon¡ªespecially for the instinct-driven Aberrant Limb Demon with meager intelligence, it couldn''t discern the difference.


    When it realized this human wasn''t an enemy but a Shepherd who granted strength and flesh, its hatred for healthy beings conflicted momentarily with the demon''s instinctual desire for ascension.


    The Aberrant Limb Demon''s mind crashed for an instant, freezing in ce.


    But after all, the herding wasn''tpleted¡ªand even if it was, it couldn''t directly control the powerful Aberrant Limb Demon. This only made it pause for an instant.


    During its hesitation, Aiwass did not waver to swing the Holy Sword once more, effortlessly severing its second arm!


    The Aberrant Limb Demon let out a shrill and furious wail¡ªpain finally snapped it back to awareness, no longer hesitating about "attacking Aiwass." Each limb was part of its strength and essence; it was a part of its life. Even decapitation couldn''t stop it, and only by destroying its six limbs could it be temporarily dissipated.


    But the time Aiwass bought was enough.


    "¡ªDemon!!"


    As the Aberrant Limb Demon writhed in agony on the ground, Gordon, who had just caught his breath, roared and charged, mming into the demon from Aiwass''s side with his shoulder!


    This moment was only a few seconds since Maya''s warning.


    Edward had chosen to believe her word, as Aiwass''s situation seemed grim.


    Standing on the first floor, Edward immediately drew his pistol from his waist, aiming up at the middle-aged man wrapped like a rice dumpling in chains on the second floor.


    Seeing him aiming his gun from such a distance, someone next to him panicked, "Chief Inspector Edward..."

 Chapter 142: Chapter 91 The Completely Convinced Shadow Demon_2

    "¡ª¡ªShut up," Edward responded with icy coldness.


    He had no intention of listening to what the person beside him wanted to say; he did not even consider ncing back.


    "Thew grants me the right to execute by shooting."


    Edward murmured softly, then pulled the trigger.


    A beam of silver brilliance shot out from the muzzle, instantly engulfing the middle-aged man''s head!


    There was no blood spray, no bone shards or flesh. When the light dissipated, the man''s head appearedpletely intact, except for a thumb-sized ck dot right in the center of his forehead.


    Because it was his soul that was shattered, ensuring he had no means of emergency escape or reincarnation.


    As the man was killed,rge swirling ck runes suddenly emerged on the ghostly pale skin of the Aberrant Limb Demon.


    They flowed from the chest of the Aberrant Limb Demon towards its limbs, and the gathered ck runes turned into nothingness. Thus, the Aberrant Limb Demon began to dissolve from its extremities, vanishing. The arm that had been embedded in Aiwass'' chest also abruptly disintegrated into nothingness. Aiwass, constantly using the Rite of the Sacred Fire, immediately used a great deal of mana to heal his wound.


    The Aberrant Limb Demon stared furiously at Aiwass, emitting iprehensible roars of rage.


    It suddenly burst forth with immense strength¡ªdespite already having been weakened by Aiwass in two rounds, its crazed, life-risking attacks still ced the aged Gordon in immediate crisis.


    ¡ªFor some reason, it seemed determined to reach Aiwass at all costs.


    Gordon''s armor, once shimmering with brilliant silver light, was now battered and dull, full of dents. But he still stood firmly in front of Aiwass, resolutely restraining the Aberrant Limb Demon''s attacks.


    The enraged Aberrant Limb Demon, realizing it couldn''t break through, attacked Gordon with all its might. Its limbs had already turned into nothingness, and as it whipped its arms, now transformed into long tendrils, at Gordon in a frenzied fashion, Gordon''s helmet had been knocked off long ago.


    "Gordon, step aside!"


    Just as Gordon was about to fall into a crisis, Aiwass'' voice suddenly rang out from behind him.


    Gordon turned his back to Aiwass; he couldn''t see anything. His vision waspletely obscured by blood, his mind buzzing from repeated blows, and the world was spinning around him. It was only by the strength enhancements from the Path that his skull hadn''t been shattered.


    But he still instinctively chose to obey Aiwass''mand.


    Perhaps it was because Aiwass didn''t address him as "Chief" or "Sir," which made the already blurred consciousness of Gordon recall memories of being ordered by his superiors during his time in the military...


    With great effort, he parried the attacks, lifting his blood-soaked, damaged de in front of him, maintaining a posture of watching the Aberrant Limb Demon, and sidestepped backward.


    It was only for an instant¡ªa searing me whooshed past him from behind.


    Though wearing armor, Gordon''s sweat from his neck, due to the intense fighting, was nearly instantaneously dried up. His right ear was scorched by the zing wave, and the hot air painfully baked the inside of his ear canal.


    It was a golden sword qi, shaped like a new moon, emitting an arc.


    It gleamed with intense brilliance, with the air around it twisting. Only at the tail was there a faint red me.


    ¡ªThat was the mana infused into the Holy Sword, unleashed in a decisive strike.


    In normal circumstances, it would not have hit the Aberrant Limb Demon. But at that moment, with most of the demon''s limbs already vanished, it could no longer deform its body, nor could it dodge... It waspletely prated in the middle, and instead of blood, arge number of sparks burst out.


    The remaining arms of the Aberrant Limb Demon were finallypletely burned away by the holy fire just before being expelled.


    Meanwhile, the remaining half of the moon-shaped me, which had already lost its shape, struck the tentacled Demon Wall.


    Still, the [Warding Off Evil] trait of the Sacred Weapon inflicted tremendous damage on the Demon Wall. The moment the holy fire touched it, it spread like mes burning a spiderweb, and with a whoosh, the grotesque fleshly tentacles that covered the entire club were burned to ash from that point on, providing a visually striking impact.


    Under everyone''s gaze, in the light of the evening glow outside the window, the Red-Handled Sword in Aiwass'' hands, with its mes extinguished, gradually became translucent, dissolving into arge deep red key.


    Aiwass, whose chest waspletely pierced by the Demon and whose priest''s robe was soaked in blood, had most of his wounds healed by the Fire Rite Skill.


    The brand-new Holy Sword badge on Aiwass'' chest was dyed red with his own blood. His priest''s robe on the front was also stained red in arge patch, with a visible circr hole through which his skin, freshly restored by the Fire Rite Skill and clean and white, could be seen.


    But not a single personughed at Aiwass. Everyone looked at the eighteen-year-old boy in the wheelchair with respect.


    Even the voice of Aiwass at this moment seemed somanding:


    "The demon has been expelled! There''s no need for panic anymore, please everyone continue to stay put and do not jostle!


    "Let the priests heal the injured first¡ªthey can still be saved!"


    The crowd, just recently in chaos, subconsciously chose to obey Aiwass''smands.


    Lily, still unsteady on her feet, staggered over and said in a low voice, "I''m sorry, Aiwass... I couldn''t be of any help to you..."


    In the sudden assault, she had felt her own weakness for the first time.


    Before this, she hadn''t cared much for transcendent powers. In her view, they were just "strength used for fighting," and she didn''t like to quarrel. But now, for the first time, Lily craved strength with such intensity¡ªso the next time Aiwass faced an attack, she wouldn''t be helpless like this again.


    "It''s alright, Lily."


    Aiwass looked at the sses on Lily''s face and gently said, "There will always be a chance... Do you need healing?"


    "Let it go to those who need it more. I just got knocked a bit, but there are many who were pierced through by the demon..."


    Lily shook her head and covered her abdomen, giving out a soft hiss of pain.


    And at that moment, Aiwass finally received the bted notification:


    [By expelling the Aberrant Limb Demon, you have gained 210 free experience points]


    ¡ª¡ªA massive amount of experience more than ten times what Veronica got!


    He roughly estimated that the free experience was enough to level up a profession from level 10 straight to level 19!


    Pleased with sessfully iming the kill, the corners of Aiwass''s mouth slightly turned up in a satisfied smile.


    It was worth getting stabbed by it after all, Aiwass thought.


    Speaking of the Phantom Demon...


    At that moment, Aiwass suddenly remembered that there was still an audience beneath him.


    Why so quiet? Stunned?


    "How about it, Shadow Demon?"


    Thus, Aiwass took the initiative and asked in his mind, "Are you satisfied?"


    [...Fervently obedient, my respected master]


    After a long silence, the Shadow Demon finally spoke up with a calm female voice.


    Its reply was brief, but the change in attitude was conspicuous.


    The voice, once raspy with a sandpaper-like texture, lightened a bit, reflecting its increasingly evident fawning attitude towards Aiwass. It was like how a cat may add a lot of trills to its meow when it is trying to please its owner.


    Aiwass smiled contentedly, lifting his head to look out at the sunset, and exhaled a sigh of relief.


    By sheer coincidence, Aiwass, Lily, and Gordon had stopped in the exact spot where the knighting ceremony had taken ce, to the letter.


    Gordon''s knight armor was battered and tattered, his helmet gone who knows where, and his Sword of Honor had noticeable nicks; Aiwass too bore signs of being pierced through at the chest, and the bloodstained badge of the Holy Sword on his chest shined in the sunset''s glow. Lily wasn''t in great shape either, but still loyally stood behind Aiwass, resting a hand on his now somewhat misshapen wheelchair.


    The photographer who had first spotted the demon and obsessively snapped pictures as if possessed, upon seeing this scene, joyfully realized he still had some film left.


    ¡ª¡ªThus, the photographer snapped another picture of Aiwass, recording this moment as well, and immortalizing it.

 Chapter 143: Chapter 92 Aiwass Decides to Reinvent His Image

    Lily said so, but Aiwass still found a gap and used Illumination Art to treat her first.


    Although she imed her injuries were not serious, Aiwass used nearly two points of Mana to treat her¡ªwhich for the vitality of ordinary people, was quite high.


    This indicated that she was likely injured in the bones or internal organs and it was just that Lily was particrly good at enduring pain. Fortunately, Aiwass''s timely treatment prevented the injury from worsening.


    Unlike the poisoning incident that happened at the White Ballet Shoes Clubst time, this time the rescue by the clergy for the external injuries was very professional and timely.


    This incident could not be called the "White Ballet Shoes Tragedy" because there was only one death in the whole incident. Moreover, it was that middle-aged man who had been controlled by the Demon Schr even before entering themendation ceremony.


    ¡ª¡ªIt was that man who incubated the Aberrant Limb Demon from his own body, like a chrysalis, and recalled the Aberrant Limb Demon lingering outside ss Ind back to the Contractor''s side.


    Generally, the Demon Schr''s recall of his Contract Demons would require arge ritual. It wasn''t something that could easily be done with just a wave of a hand or a snap of the fingers. Otherwise, there would be no need for them to carry demons with them at all times; they could just leave the demons in a safe and hidden ce and act alone.


    Just like the Demon Schr Aiwass encountered in the ritual, who was controlling the Hook Demon, he always stayed within his ritual site, maintained a mental connection with the demon, and was ready to recall it at any time. The Demon Schr who infiltrated the White Ballet Shoes Club this time, obviously, could not have conducted arge ritual at the venue. Therefore, he needed a sacrifice for the recall.


    That "Mr. Sacrifice" ingested a part of the Aberrant Limb Demon''s flesh and blood and wrote arge number of runes on his body¡ªusing his own body as a temple andpleting the ritual within himself. That''s why the Aberrant Limb Demon, which wasrger than him, could emerge from his body.


    Although it''s unclear whether his will was controlled, or he was beguiled and deceived, or even kidnapped and threatened... But since he remained silent throughout, helped the Demon Schrs safely blend into the venue, and summoned demons with his own body and life, he had to bear some of the responsibility regardless.


    Therefore, that person is not considered a "victim" of this incident.


    Excluding him, this incident was a miraculous survival of everyone!


    Because the situation was resolved quickly enough, those Inspectors and Monitors severely injured by the Aberrant Limb Demon received arge amount of treatment from the clergy and were all sessfully saved.


    ¡ª¡ªSessfully confronting an Upper-Level Demon and expelling it ensured that Her Royal Highness, all the officials, businessmen, and clergy present, and even the civilians on the second floor who were observing, were unharmed. Not a single official Transcendent fled in fear, no Inspector or Monitor was unfortunately lost in the line of duty... and in the end, a fourth Energy Level Demon Schr was killed, and a second Energy Level apprentice was captured alive.


    This was an indisputable victory. It had been a long time since Avalon had such a resounding victory.


    As expected, the newspapers would likely mention this event repeatedly for the next half a month or even a month.


    Aiwass''s title would no longer be "Detective". It would be "Hero".


    He was a true hero¡ª


    If he hadn''t stepped forward to severely wound the demon with the Holy Sword, the Demon Schr would not have been interrupted from his mental control; Gordon would have likely died, and others might have suffered misfortune; even if the Demon Schr was caught by other means, who knew how many people the demon would have killed before being expelled.


    Isabel also became very happy, even ecstatic. It seemed as if she had a lot to say, but in the end, she held back.


    That''s because she was not allowed to attend the banquet outside, or else she would probably have followed along.


    The other people who witnessed all this were also exceptionally excited.


    The sudden attack didn''t cause them too much fear¡ªbecause the joy of a perfect victory diluted the unease. After the award ceremony concluded, the banquet was held as scheduled. And the number of people attending the banquet was several times more than before, with people who had no previous dealings with Aiwass now conversing amiably with him at the banquet.


    Aiwass indeed drank a lot of alcohol and even told Ang that if he didn''t get up, to please call in sick for him tomorrow morning.


    Implicitly meaning he had drunk too much and might not be able to get up tomorrow morning. But he was going to go back to the dormitory tonight, not directly take a leave of absence to go home.


    ¡ª¡ªCroix, who was lurking in the shadows the entire time, clearly heard this sentence.


    Aiwass had long noticed her presence, but he did not make it public. He was surrounded by several high-ranking Transcendents with top-notch vignce, and Croix would not dare to attack him unless she was absolutely sure of a fatal blow.


    But as the saying goes, it''s not the fear of the thief stealing, but the fear of the thief''s persistent thoughts.


    Therefore, Aiwass nned to deliberately create a perfect w to lure her into assassinating him.


    Another reason Croix did not immediately attack Aiwass was that a needless greed had budded in her heart.


    ¡ª¡ªUpon further reflection, why did she harbor hatred towards Aiwass, a person unrted to her mission? Wasn''t it because his words exposed her, leading to the loss of the many hard-to-collect life-saving artifacts she had been hoarding!


    Her work was already very dangerous. It was only thanks to these life-saving artifacts that she could ensure a response to various emergencies. In a sense, these artifacts were her second life¡ªa pre-paid pseudo-life. Having lost more than one life, of course, she would want to take revenge.


    However, the "Red-Handled Sword" disyed by Aiwass attracted her attention.


    This weapon belonged to the "Holy Sword Guardian Samuel" and was also what led to his shift to the upation of "Cursed Holy Knight"¡ªa boss from version 3.2. Aiwass used the Holy Sword Skill once a month to restore its appearance, which was just another shell for storing curses.


    There was no doubt about Croix''s judgment.


    This sword possessed Transcendent value and even involved secrets of the Angel Envoy and Celestial Marshal. If she wanted to seize this sword, the best way was to kill Aiwass without anyone knowing she was the one who did it.


    Not knowing who the specific target was for the theft of the Holy Sword, she was safe holding it. Otherwise, she would bring unnecessary trouble upon herself.


    Of course, if she were purely a Transcendent who followed the Path of Adaptation, she would mostly remain sober. She would realize that since Aiwass could possess the Holy Sword, he was not someone she could provoke easily.


    But Aiwass knew that she was not that type of person.


    If she came to his award ceremony, it could only mean she wanted revenge. This act alone proved she was not a pure follower of the Path of Adaptation. There must be some other Path''s adaptability skewing her actions; and with real-time updates from the Shadow Demon, Aiwass knew she even followed the crowd to the subsequent banquet.


    She was there to gather information.


    Sure enough, after Aiwass said this, Croix soon left.


    ¡ªThe fish had taken the bait.


    Aiwass thought.


    He was not afraid of getting drunk.


    Because [Alcohol], this type of food, falls under the Path of Love creation. The madness and chaos caused by drinking were also a way tomunicate with the Eternal Self. When priests perform the Rite of Fire for the Eternal Self, they must do so in a state of gluttony and drunkenness.


    Simrly, the "shadow" ability of the Shadow Demon also belongs to the Path of Love, just as the mes of the me Demon belong to the Path of Devotion. This is why Aiwass used the "Moon" card when extracting the power of the Shadow Demon to create the Sin Tarot.


    From this perspective, the more Aiwass drank, the tighter his spiritual connection with the Shadow Demon became.


    Even if he gotpletely drunk, he would not pass out. At most, he would let the Shadow Demon take over and y for him.


    And the Shadow Demon, in this state, waspletely trustworthy.


    Therefore, Aiwass did not pretend to be drunk, as that would only make Croix possibly vignt.


    Just like Aiwass had just used his body as bait, luring the Aberrant Limb Demon to attack him before counterattacking¡ªhe did not mind using himself as bait. On the contrary, he enjoyed the strategy of "casting arge amount of bait." Perhaps that was why he had such a highpatibility with the Nurturing Skill.


    If he was going to act, he might as well do it thoroughly¡ªAiwass was truly drunk, and it was by his own intention.


    Otherwise, the Fire Rite Skill, or the Illumination Art used by the other priests, could dispel the state of drunkenness.


    But Aiwass deliberately did not do so.


    His excuse was that he also wanted to experience being drunk and what it felt like¡ªnow was a particrly joyful asion and might be a good opportunity.


    Some were concerned and asked if his legs were okay... and Aiwass took the opportunity toy some groundwork for others and updated his persona.


    He pre-emptively exined that he was not actually disabled, which was why the Aberrant Limb Demon targeted him. It was because he had been sacrificed by the Demon Schr during the ceremony, which resulted in muscle weakness in his legs. He could actually move, but doing so increased the risk of falling... So, to save effort, he usually sat in a wheelchair.


    In other words, he could stand up. It was just tiring, so he used a wheelchair to get around during his rehabilitation. He also performed rehabilitation exercises to restore his physical strength.


    This way, if he identally stood upter, he would have an exnation.


    Although Lily was utterly confused, she did not expose Aiwass. When asked, she would confidently add some settings and details for Aiwass as if it were all true.


    Lies and deception were also abilities of the Path of Adaptation. Aiwass could finally confirm that Lily''s talenty in the Path of Adaptation.


    After all, the Shadow Demon had submitted faster than Aiwass had anticipated; and the experience gift from the Aberrant Limb Demon allowed Aiwass, who had no time to train in the "ritual" skill, to rapidly advance his career level on the Path of Transcendence. Aiwass had predicted it would take half a year, but now it seemed he might shed the identity of the Wheelchair Hero sooner than that.


    Whether he traveled to other countries or followed his mentor on an archaeological expedition, he needed to be able to walk.


    No one has ever heard of someone pushing a wheelchair on archaeological digs and adventures.


    As the star of the banquet, Aiwass was proactive in his participation, making the atmosphere exceptionally lively.


    When they returned to 14 Roning Street, it was already past midnight.


    On the way, Aiwass had already fallen asleep, covered with Lily''s coat until they got home.


    After Lily wiped down the sleeping Aiwass and fed him a sobering medicine, she ced him on the bed. Then she went to sleep in the adjoining guest room.


    Another two and a half hours passed after that.


    It was three in the morning when Croix, who had been lying in wait, appeared silently, her green pupils gleaming like a wolf''s.


    She paced silently around the room, effortlessly finding the huge key hanging on the wheelchair.

 Chapter 144: Chapter 93: The Cost of Stealing Shadows

    But Croix hesitated for a moment and did not touch the key first.


    Although she did not know if the key had any warning function... it was still better to take itst, just to be safe.


    The closer she got to victory, the calmer Croix became. She started to consider all possibilities in her mind, pondering her own oversights and mistakes.


    After quietly reviewing the situation and confirming there were no holes in her n.


    Aiwass was indeed truly drunk, all his behaviors in his sleep showed no abnormalities.


    Only then did she boldly approached. Taking out a dark red lipstick from her bosom, she gently applied it to herself.


    The basic ability of the Path of Adaptation was resistance to poison and disease; the higher the level, the stronger the resistance. That''s why they could swallowrge quantities of herbs without worrying about side effects, or eat any visible creature in the wild to supplement their energy and nutrition. Many poisons were ineffective against them but worked on others. Because of this cognitive difference, the assassination capability of the Path of Adaptation was very strong.


    As a member of the "Hawkeye" organization, she knew various secret and curse poison production methods. She applied this paste-like deadly poison not only to her "Hawk Feather" throwing knives but also made it into convenient-to-carry and conceal lipstick, triggering a fatal kiss.


    Of course, this didn''t really have any special significance. It was just a morbid taste of hers... If pressed, one could say a kiss was lighter than the act of applying lipstick to someone else. But in truth, all she really wanted to do was to "kiss".


    A kiss that stealthily stole another''s life gave a romantic and charming sensation. It was as if she were the subus or siren of legends. It carried a certain ritualistic feeling.


    But now that Croix thought about it... perhaps she had a tendency towards the Path of Love from the very beginning. This habit along the way was actually continuously enhancing herpatibility with the Path of Love, and she had remained utterly unaware. Only now did she truly realize how intense her desires were.


    Just like she always wore those clothes that seemed a bit too revealing and conspicuous for Avalonians, dressing up beautifully. This seemed a bit too high-profile for an assassin.


    She had always disguised herself as a disciple of the Path of Beauty, but she might be more suited for the Path of Love. Unfortunately, the Path of Love of the Iris Flower waspletely controlled by the Son of the Moon, and she might leave the organization, but could never be the Son of the Moon¡ªotherwise, her colleagues would surely find and kill her.


    ¡ªBut that''s okay.


    Once I get this Sacred Weapon, I''ll have the leverage to negotiate with the organization.


    After applying the lipstick, Croix looked at the sleeping and alcohol-breathed Aiwass and smiled.


    ...Upon closer inspection, though annoying before, this young man now actually looked quite handsome.


    So giving him a kiss, I wouldn''t be at a loss.


    She leaned down and gently kissed Aiwass¡ªbut for some reason, she could only bend halfway.


    She could smell the faint aroma of alcohol on the breath of the sleeping Aiwass, as well as the masculine scenting off of his body. But as if her waist was anesthetized, stuck in this strenuous position, she could not move at all.


    "¡ªHad enough fun?"


    A cold female voice echoed in her head.


    Judging from the voice and tone, it sounded like a dominant and proud mature woman.


    ¡ªNot Aiwass''s personal maid.


    Damn it, was someone else lurking in this room?!


    Croix instantly snapped to her senses, instinctively melting into shadow to break free from the unknown restraints, and dived into Aiwass''s shadow.


    But unlike every other Shadow Stealth¡ª


    Or rather, just like thest time she entered Aiwass''s shadow, she was gripped by an immense, intense fear.


    ¡ªBut it was already toote to escape.


    The shadow that she used to move freely through now felt like frozen ice, cold and solid.


    It was as if she had thrown herself into a cage, freezing herself within a block of ice.


    The cold voice mocked in her ear, "You little thief who steals the power of shadows, you sure trust this power a lot..."


    At this moment, Croix felt a dizzying whirl.


    When she regained her sight, the Aiwass lying on the bed seemed very distant.


    And her point of view...


    ¡ªwas as if sealed inside a mirror!


    The "other self" that looked almost exactly like her, except with ck hair and ck eyes, stood where she had just been, sneering at the Croix in the mirror.


    She slowly "approached" the mirror, drawing near¡ªit was just a movement, for she was actually floating towards it. As she walked, half of her foot would merge into the ground. Her body did not bob up and down with each step, instead emitting a faint ck smoke.


    The Croix in the mirror, totally out of control, was forced to mimic the same movements as her counterpart outside of the mirror, drawing near the "other self" that filled her with profound fear.


    After the "other self" drew near, Croix noticed... her pupils and hair were not ck, but a flowing void. It was not the shine of reflection or clear strands of hair but something "nonexistent".


    Her skin was so pale that it seemed almost ghostly, a near-transparent texture... the only solid thing was the clothing on her body.

 Chapter 145: Chapter 93: The Cost of Stealing Shadows_2

    ¡ª¡ªWho are you?


    Croix wanted to speak, but she couldn''t even open her mouth. It was as if she had truly be a reflection.


    Yet, the Croix outside the mirror seemed to hear her very thoughts, a slight smile curling her lips, revealing a quite charming grin.


    But the Croix sealed inside the mirror did not mirror the same action.


    The Croix within the mirror still had caramel-colored short curls. Visible fear surfaced on her face, distorting her lovely features.


    "Follower of the Lord of Scalefeather, thief who steals the scales of fish and the feathers of birds... Have you forgotten where your poweres from after all this?"


    She mocked, extending her slender, pale fingers to glide gently across Croix''s cheek.


    Click¡ª¡ª


    Croix seemed to hear a phantom sound. Like her soul being sliced, an indescribable agony came to her¡ªher reflection cracked, yet she was unable to utter a single word.


    Her mind went nk from pain, but soon that word flooded into her heart¡ª¡ª


    ¡ª¡ªWhere does my powere from?


    It''s the Shadow Demon!


    ...A Shadow Demon in Aiwass''s shadow?!


    Impossible!


    But... if this were true...


    In that moment, she understood everything.


    Why Aiwass could see her, why he was not at all afraid of her, why she felt such immense fear when stepping into Aiwass''s shadow...


    And she also realized, the words Aiwass had said at the banquet were nothing but a trap and disguise to lure her in!


    ¡ª¡ªWhat priest, what hero! All fake!


    He was not the least bit decent¡ª¡ªa Demon Schr who made a pact with an Upper-Level Demon couldn''t possibly be so young!


    It must have been an exceedingly powerful Demon Schr, who had taken on the Path of Dusk, reincarnated into Aiwass''s body, and stolen his identity and shell!


    In that instant, regret flooded her heart.


    If she had another chance, she would never have messed with Aiwass!


    But it was toote.


    There was no way she could escape from the hands of the Shadow Demon!


    The power from the Path of Adaptation came from imitating others. Whether it was poison, precognition, invisibility, regeneration, or other abilities, they all stemmed from mimicking the abilities of other creatures in the natural world. And her Shadow Stealth skill was an ability constructed by the predecessors of the Hawkeye Organization, modeled after the abilities of the "Shadow Demon".


    Yet, after all, it was a pirated version; they could never truly capture a Shadow Demon to directly copy its gifts. It was merely a weakened version of the ability built through observation and imagination.


    Only now did she realize that the Shadow Demon''s control over "shadows" also included mirror images!


    It wasn''t so much that this was the way to catch her as it was that the Shadow Demon had already caught her, and then, especially performed the real way a Shadow Demon hunts...


    "I don''t really mind you copied the talent from one of my kind. But you do it so hideously, like a toad singing or a donkey dancing. It''s like having an elephant run thumping over my head... so noisy."


    The Shadow Demon''s voice was full of malice, and Croix became increasingly aware that its voice was gradually drawing closer to her own¡ªfrom that proud and mature female voice to her own voice, as sweet and charming as honey.


    "Also, more importantly¡ª¡ªthe shadow of the master, that is my territory."


    Her voice was soft yet icy cold, and slender fingers reached through the mirror surface, gripping the person in the mirror''s throat, "You''ve overstepped your bounds, little thief."


    "If it hadn''t been for the master''s mercy, I would have torn you to pieces right then and there. You''re lucky the Serpent Father protects you, yet you daree back."


    "You''re even foolish enough to try to kill my master¡ª who do you think you are? So weak, yet so confident..."


    The Croix reflected in the mirror writhed in agony, her body being continually corroded by shadows. The edge of the standing mirror also began to seep blood, as if it were not a solid mirror but a slowly closing iron maiden.


    And before Croix lost consciousness, the Shadow Demon''s voice echoed in her heart: "You''ve copied me, so I''ll copy you. I just happen to need a set of skin that suits human aesthetics."


    "Since you attempted to steal the shadow... your throat and face now belong to me."


    Using a human expression, this could be called ''settling debts.''


    Speaking thus, the Shadow Demon''s finger touched the mirror surface, marking arge cross and saying, "You''re now insolvent, Miss."


    In an instant, Croix''s soul, already full of cracks, waspletely shredded by the Shadow Demon''s nails.


    Not until the next day did Aiwass wake up groggy, and he wasn''t awakened by the Shadow Demon.


    It was part of the agreement he had with the Shadow Demon, to quietly take care of that assassin. There was no need to wake him up if nothing special happened.


    This was also his way of showing his trust in the Shadow Demon.


    "How didst night go?"


    The moment he woke up, he asked this in his mind, "What were herst words?"


    Aiwass wasn''t worried that the Shadow Demon had let her get away.


    Because upon waking, a notification window had already appeared before his eyes:


    [Eliminated a fourth energy-level Transcendent, gained 120 free experience]


    About one hundred less than from the Aberrant Limb Demon, but experience delivered to his doorstep was still useful. Together with the experience that Aiwass hadn''t used up before, he now had a total of 364 free experience points. With this, after advancing as a Demon Schr at the beginning of the month, Aiwass could advance again at the beginning of the following month¡ª to climb directly to the third energy level in just two months!


    Now, what constrained Aiwass was actually the cooldown time for rituals. Of course, to prevent experience overflow, it would still be normal to read books and then use free experience to level up at the end.


    Every bit saved was one bit earned!


    Aiwass was just a little worried¡ª the Shadow Demon hadn''t shredded and corroded everything on her person, had it?


    "I remember telling you to keep any equipment that could be kept on her... where did you put it?"


    He inquired further, "And, you didn''t make a mess of the floor or anything, right?"


    "She had nost words; she remained silent until death. She only regretted having offended you," replied the Shadow Demon, whose voice sounded more human than yesterday as it rose from the depths of his heart, "The spoils are on the couch beside you, all there, Master... As for her blood, I''ve consumed it all. There won''t be a trace left."


    Aiwass looked over¡ª indeed it was so.


    The clothes were neatly folded, organized, and sorted. They wereid out as if they had been ced there by the wearer herself¡ªpletely intact, without a single sign of damage.


    "... Did Lilye by?"


    Aiwass''s first reaction was to wonder if Lily hade over and arranged everything?


    But he soon realized¡ª he had already reminded Lily the night before not toe wake him today. She wouldn''t have entered his room without permission.


    This Shadow Demon... was quite well-organized in its work?

 Chapter 146: Chapter 94 Inventorying the Spoils of War

    Aiwass didn''t look for a wheelchair; he simply got out of bed still in his pajamas.


    Stepping onto the soft and dry carpet, he couldn''t help but exim, "It''s indeed quite clean here, no bloodstains on the floor, and even the carpet is spotless... Not bad, Shadow Demon."


    As Aiwass''s feet touched the ground, his contract with the Shadow Demon connected, and the power that belonged to the Shadow Demon was activated.


    The morning light of the rising sun was shining on Aiwass.


    The sunlight, not too intense, cast only a faint shadow behind him. But after the Shadow Demon''s power was activated, the shadow suddenly darkened¡ªas if arge dose of ink had fallen into water. The shadow near Aiwass''s feet turned into something resembling a furry ck cat.


    The whole room darkened, countless pitch-ck smokes slowly solidified, creeped up all the windows. The gradually thickening lines of shadow, like dense blood vessels and nerves, or like slowly growing tree branches, nearlypletely blocked out the sunlight from outside.


    Now only a little sunlight filtered through, resembling the dim but barely visible state inside a room when dawn is about to break.


    "A bit too dark," Aiwass remarked casually, "but go ahead, as long as you''re happy."


    "I thought you would''ve torn her to pieces. I was prepared to pick up whatever was useful... Never expected everything to be so intact," Aiwass continued.


    He picked and chose, searching through his spoils of victory.


    The more he inspected, the more subtle his expression became.


    Not to mention the equipment, why even the underwear had been preserved intact?


    ...Ah, that''s not right either. It seems reasonable after all.


    If the equipment wasplete but only the underwear was missing, that would seem like a bigger problem...


    After a rough search, the most valuable item among the things the Miss Assassin "dropped" was probably her dagger, that is, the hiltless throwing knife.


    [Hawk Feather*4]


    [Extraordinary Weapon (Light Purple)]


    [Exotic Dagger, throwing weapon, light, sharp]


    [Exotic Trait: Hiltless (It must be used with a special technique to be handled properly)]


    [Module-Poison Slot: Its poison effectsts longer, and the poisoned target is more easily afflicted when hit]


    [Extraordinary Module-Silent Poison: When it is poisoned, it will not make any noise before hitting the target]


    There were four knives left of this set.


    They had no fancy attributes; all their effects were crafted for assassination. They were among the weakest types of Extraordinary Weapons¡ªbut for an assassin, they were excellent concealed weapons.


    Once coated with poison, they would not make a sound when slicing. If one attacked covertly with this method, evasion would be nearly dependent on intuition alone. In some paths thatck the intuitive trait, even highly trained Transcendents could not detect it with their senses.


    It''s just a pity that Miss Assassin didn''t drop a "skill book." Aiwass couldn''t temporarily learn the techniques of the Hawkeye Organization''s assassin to use this weapon...


    ¡ªBut that didn''t mean it was unusable. All he needed was to find a trustworthy cksmith to attach a handle to the back. That way, it would turn from an Exotic Dagger back to an ordinary one.


    Although it might lead to a shift in bnce, it wouldn''t affect its attributes. If the cksmith was skilled enough, he should be able to modify it adequately.


    And the poison that apanied the knife, Miss Assassin had two samples on her, both in the guise of lipstick.


    One lipstick was dark red, named [Affection]. Its poison was more covert, causing increasing fatigue in the victim over several hours, leading to an unsuspecting death.


    The other was pink, called [Mist of the Moon]. It could kill a person within seconds, with the cause of death being rapid corrosion and melting of the internal organs, mainly the heart and lungs¡ªevidently the poison used to assassinate the secretary.


    Both lipsticks were practically new and likely tost a long time. Aiwass wasn''t a poison maker, and he wasn''t a Transcendent of the Path of Adaptation, hence he couldn''t immunize himself against this poison. Obviously, he also didn''t use lipstick himself.


    Even so, it wasn''t a problem to use the lipstick directly as a solid poison paste. The poisons from the Hawkeye Organization were reliable... Anyway, he would keep them for now; they mighte in handy in the future.


    Besides that, there was a signal transmitter. It was a badge that needed to be infused with Dark Attribute Mana to be activated, its purpose being to alert superiors in an emergency¡ªeither for assistance or for suicide.


    It seems Shadow Demon was very efficient. She didn''t even have the opportunity tomit suicide before being killed by Shadow Demon.


    Otherwise, the experience would have gone to waste.


    "This dropped?!"


    When Aiwass saw Miss Assassin''s corset, he suddenly gasped.


    "¡ªIs her position in Hawkeye really that high?!"


    Because that was none other than another piece of the "Eagle of the Shadow" set, also the most valuable and core piece of equipment:


    [Shadow Stalker]


    [Extraordinary Equipment (Purple)]


    [Armor-Trunk]


    [Trait: While unnoticed by enemies, the likelihood of sess when entering Stealth or Invisibility increases (limited to Path of Adaptation activation)]


    [Extraordinary Trait: In Stealth or Invisibility, attacksunched with sneak attacks will always gain a +1 advantage (Darkness) (limited to Path of Adaptation activation)]


    [Set: Eagle of the Shadow (1/4)]


    ["¡ªStay quiet, maintain silence. The shadows are our mother."]


    Although it''s only of Purple rarity, without a hint of resistance nor enchanted with spells...


    This is undoubtedly the most valuable piece of the set.


    In the game, it could be purchased, but in reality, only this piece of equipment is not mass-produced. Thus, its set attributes are actually iplete, and general yers could only collect up to three pieces. The fourth piece had to be acquired through special channels.

 Chapter 147: Chapter 94 Inventorying the Spoils of War_2

    Because what it brings is an increase in "priority."


    The Transcendents of this world use "Energy Level" to summarize their ranks because in a sh of abilities, a Transcendent with a higher Energy Level is more likely to make a sessful determination. When Energy Levels are the same, the oue is less certain.


    For instance, the Path of Authority possesses a Law Magic called "Omnipresence Incantation," which can reveal things hidden by transcendent powers within a range. This spell has a +1 advantage (reveal), meaning it can be sessfully activated even if it is one Energy Level lower than the opponent''s, but if two levels lower, it essentially can''t detect anything.


    Therefore, those low-level Inspectors and Legal Mages cannot catch Miss Assassin¡ª their levels are too low, and no matter what they do, they cannot find where she is hiding.


    Having +1 advantage (shadow) means that with the boost from the shadow domain, the assassin gains a temporary Energy Level during stealth attacks. However, if the opponent is immune to shadow abilities, then this priority enhancement is void.


    ording to Aiwass''s judgment, Gordon should be a Level 39 Sky Cavalry. At his age, he most certainly has enough umtion of experience. So he must be stuck at the level before advancement¡ªthat is, precisely Level 39.


    He must have decided not to advance after repeated failures in advancement.


    Advancing from the fourth to the fifth Energy Level, failure can already cause significant damage to the soul. There is even a possibility of death during the full moon ceremony.


    Although Gordon did not bring his mount, the Miss Assassin also did notunch a sneak attack. As a weaker profession managing to fight a Sky Cavalry head-on without losing, and even outrun Gryphons, Miss Assassin must also be around Level 38 or 39.


    This also aligns with the strategy of the Hawkeye Organization: The assassins they send abroad are basically all of the fourth Energy Level. Because it''s at this level that assassins can more safely evade pursuit and investigation, operating in unfamiliar and dangerous areas.


    If Miss Assassin couldplete her advancement to Level 40, then Gordon would not be able to suppress her. Although it''s only a one-level difference, it is also a difference in ss.


    But if those Transcendents with names starting with "Great" from the fifth Energy Level really came, Croix''s Stealth would be worthless to them. They could easily detect and control Croix.


    This is the suppression by Energy Level. It''s precisely because of this rigid "ranking" system that Transcendents refer to it as "Energy Level," which implies the priority of extraordinary abilities.


    The Path of Adaptation, meanwhile, possesses the ability to prevent sneak attacks and to sense danger; other paths also have defensive capabilities. But just by wearing this set of cloth armor that has no defensive properties at all, assassins can sessfullyunch sneak attacks on previously unassable enemies, pierce defenses that were once imprable, and hit targets that were before untargetable.


    Even with just +1, the temporary elevation of an Energy Level determination is immensely valuable!


    Although with updates, the affixes that improve priority began to overflow... this is also a type of stat intion. But in the current 1.0 version, even +1 advantageous equipment is rare.


    Without the advantage enhancement, it''s basically impossible for a Level 50 to fight a Fallen Celestial Marshal.


    Level 50 is even nearly an impossible sixth Energy Level to reach in the current version, necessitating the gathering of nine Transcendents at Level 49 from different Paths for a chance at advancement, with a high probability of death upon failure. Because it''s basically impossible to gather enough people now, Level 50 advancement is arduous... it will wait until the world is in chaos and the power of the fifth Energy Level has begun to fall short, that is when the sixth Energy Level will start being born en masse.


    In the current environment, the sixth energy level is undeniably the world''s strongest, unmatched by any.


    The Holy Nation''s Eternal Pope is now level 50, but she also forcefully advanced one temporary level due to the Authority of the Eternal Pope, and will return to level 49 once she resigns.


    As for the Fallen Celestial Marshal, being a version 3.0''s extremely challenging raid boss, even level 50 is just meeting the bare minimum threshold. In suchrge MMORPG games, for the toughest challenge-level dungeons of a version, without being max level and fully equipped, you basically can''t even join a raid group, let alone participate¡ªit''s just repeated total party kills.


    ¡ªThis is the value of a Superior Phantom.


    Just like "Upper-Level Demon" refers to demons of a higher status than Demon Schrs, the concept of "Superior Phantom" only started after the Fallen Celestial Marshal wiped out the Rose Cross Society. It refers to Phantom Demons of a higher status than this world¡ªall Angels and Celestial Marshals are ssified as Superior Phantoms.


    The distinction between a Superior Phantom and a Phantom Demon is that a Superior Phantom, even when forcefully incarnated into the Material Realm with their level capped at the world''s upper limit, is always regarded as being of a higher tier. And that was the main reason for the Rose Cross Society''s failure, a pure case of an information gap.


    Whether a being has an all-domain unconditional +1 beneficial (divine) judgment is the distinction between a Superior Phantom and a Phantom Demon.


    Only Superior Phantoms can be sealed by Great Sin Schrs into Great Beasts.


    Therefore, although the Defiant me Butterfly had a low level, its status was high¡ªthis prematurely hatched Little Butterfly was even just at level thirty at the time, but its judgments met the criteria of the fifth energy level. It was almost immune to all forms of control, weakening, curses, Armor Piercing, backstabbing, and it could even prate the yers'' resistances and shields.


    At the time, yers even thought this was a standard feature for raid bosses... but then there were no bosses with this trait for two consecutive major versions. It was only after defeating the Fallen Celestial Marshal that the yers btedly realized... the Defiant me Butterfly was actually the first Superior Phantom that they had conquered.


    So, equipment with the "+1 beneficial" attribute is the most critical to collect. Although each domain only takes the highest level of enhancement, there are still many domains that can be enhanced.


    This is also why Aiwass wanted to go on an archaeological expedition¡ªsuch equipment is known to be valuable even to the natives, and it''s typically only held by the top forces in each nation. In the Iris Flower, it would be Hawkeye, and in Avalon, the Arbitration Hall.


    The strongest in Avalon should be the Grand Arbitrator Meg.


    Although she''s also just a fifth energy level Transcendent, she has three pieces of equipment with +1 priority, which enhance the domains of "Barrier," "Revtion," and "Resistance." If she were to wield the queen''s scepter, she could also gain a priority in the "Decree" domain; with that, she would basically be a sixth energy level powerhouse.


    It''s precisely because of Meg''s formidable deterrent power that Avalon, with its increasingly chaotic internal politics and diverse ulterior motives, has been able to maintain its stability to this day.


    It was because in the summer of the next year, Meg realized that the situation in Avalon was gradually turning dire, so she decided to attempt advancement. If she had seeded, Star Antimony wouldn''t have dared to attack Avalon.


    But during that advancement ceremony, Meg''s attempt sadly failed, and she ultimately met with misfortune and died¡ª


    Only three months passed after that, and then came Avalon''s "Cruel Autumn" incident.

 Chapter 148: Chapter 95 The Greedy Aiwass

    By this era, the existing equipment had already been mostly monopolized.


    If you wanted to reliably get this kind of equipment that increased priority, you had to grave rob. In the game, this tranted to card-style treasure hunting.


    This was the "special channel" mentioned earlier.


    From "Mrs. Mina''s Fortune Telling Shop," you could obtain random "clues" through a daily fortune telling session. These clues were graded, following the ssic treasure map pattern.


    In the game, this meant that after reaching the destination and using the clue, you could dig up a BOSS; after defeating it, the whole party would receive a piece of bound equipment that couldn''t be traded.


    This BOSS was tough, usually requiring a call to the world channel for muscle. Even if you didn''t draw a clue, you could also pay yers who had drawn a high-level clue to join their team and share the loot.


    Purple clues meant that every person was guaranteed at least one piece of light purple equipment, and it was only from purple to deep purple that there was a chance to get the priority equipment. Purple was typically the core of a set, while deep purpleprised powerful stand-alone pieces.


    The "at least" meant that you were most likely to dig up light purple items.


    This equipment came from ancient families that had top-level powerhouses in them. Most of these items were gifts from Celestial Marshals, Angel Envoys, or the gods themselves. Back then, because there was no convenient system for inheriting "professions," the transmission of extraordinary abilities was easily lost. After the copse of the ancient kingdoms, this equipment could end up buried with them.


    Aiwass had been very eager to follow his mentor on archaeological digs, precisely to unearth these kinds of items.


    Hopefully, the "Mrs. Mina''s Fortune Telling Shop" in this world would also have such clues or something simr...


    Tomorrow would be Saturdaye the weekend, Aiwass would have time to browse through the "Marketce."


    The [Shadow Stalker] was also a rare item that dated back to ancient times. The reason Aiwass knew it was an ancient piece of equipment was that it could be dug up, meaning yers had a chance to possess it. In contrast, modern acquisitions could not be unearthed.


    For instance, two pieces of the Great Arbitrator''s gear, as well as the queen''s scepter and crown, came from the blessings of the Silver-Crowned Dragon.


    The status of that Miss Assassin might be even higher than Aiwass had imagined. The [Shadow Stalker] was usually bestowed by the leader of Hawkeye Organization upon assassin masters who had reached the fifth energy level.


    Although it might not be nice to say, Miss Assassin clearly didn''t merit it yet. Sure, she reached level 39 at a young age, but that didn''t guarantee her advancement would be sessful. After three or four consecutive failures, it practically became impossible to advance further. Only when older and more experienced, with mystical skills bing more adept, would the chances of advancement increase.


    So, either the leader of Hawkeye had a particr faith in her talent, or she was highly favored.


    But she likely wasn''t blood-rted to the leader... Aiwass knew his daughter. His daughter was in her thirties, and his grandchild was only a few years old, so it couldn''t be lined up in any way. Moreover, if that were the case, the Hawkeye Organization probably wouldn''t let Miss Assassin undertake dangerous missions.


    However, this girl did seem a bit temperamental, not knowing forbearance at all¡ªobviously the pampered type, unlike the cold-hearted and ruthless assassin trained through harsh practices. She seemed more like a proud youngdy.


    In such misaligned circumstances with the Path of Adaptation, yet she managed to reach the peak of the fourth energy level at such a young age, she likely entered the Path of Adaptation very young and had guidance from an elder sharing the same Path.


    That''s why she insisted on maxing out three levels of "Shadow Affinity." This path trait was virtually useless until it hit level three, and even during the first rank-up, it was considered good to have been chosen once, let alone multiple times. Without someone teaching her, how could she possibly make the same choice three times in a row?


    Moreover, before mastering Shadow Stealth by maxing out all three times, she was essentially powerless inbat.


    As an assassin that was almost seen as expendable, wasn''t the cost of training her by Hawkeye Organization a bit high?


    ¡ªUnless she didn''t have to take on missions at a low level.


    It was precisely because shecked experience in contending with others at a low level and had failed at assassinations that she acted so impulsively, relying predominantly on level and equipment to overpower adversaries...


    Hence, she was most likely somewhat rted to the previous generation of assassin masters. And that master probably didn''t approve of her joining the Hawkeye Organization.


    That would make sense... So that Miss Assassin, despite her high level, was tasked with an array of undemanding missions in Avalon.


    Just nepotism, sister.


    ...But that also implied that the equipment might be somewhat hot to handle. Although her superior did not receive her signal, if she kept neglecting to reach out to him, he would surely know that Miss Assassin had died, and likely been captured or even exposed.


    Under such circumstances, he would surely move his base and flee. The news of her death in Avalon would also spread within the Hawkeye Organization.


    Unless Aiwass managed to locate her superior first and silence him, the Assassin Master might personally make a visit.


    But Miss Assassin was a nepotist with inadequate experience, hence her direct exposure¡ªcould her superior also be so easily exposed?


    Aiwass didn''t expect so.


    Even so, he had no intention of letting go of the gains within his grasp.


    He had always been quite greedy. Such exquisite items, Aiwass could either use, gift, sell, or even exchange for other benefits, but he certainly wouldn''t quietly return them after backing down!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!