"That's not necessarily the case... Little Detective."
Aiwass raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and responded in a low voice: "Is it really okay for you not to sell newspapers to us?"
This boy with brown curly hair, tiny freckles all over his face, a slender and short body, and who looks only seven or eight years old... must be Sherlock.
As soon as Aiwas got out of the car, he easily recognized Sherlock's identity.
Because Sherlock didn't hide anything at all.
He didn't even play his role well.
As a newspaper boy, he did not try to sell his newspapers, but hid in the shade calmly and silently, looking at everyone passing by with his sharp and gloomy eyes.
His gaze was like a cold blade, making passers-by feel uncomfortable. Several people looked at him in surprise and vigilance, and only felt relieved when they saw that it was a gloomy child.
"Fox, you're very smart... but you're probably a newbie, right?"
The boy sneered coldly, "Teach you a lesson. In most cases, it's okay to choose not to play your own identity.
“Although ‘playing an identity’ is a necessary task, the criterion for failure is not your failure in playing the role, but being questioned and exposed.
"I'm just a newspaper boy. Even if it's strange to stay here and do nothing, who would jump out and question me, 'You don't look like a real newspaper boy'? No one would pay attention to me... because I'm insignificant."
"I see… "
Aiwass thought for a moment, and a warm and bright smile appeared on his face: "Does that mean that as long as I kill all those who might question me first - as long as I make them speechless, I won't have to worry about being exposed?"
"Yes, that's right. But with your ability, you probably can't do it."
Detective Sherlock, who arrived in the guise of a little boy, was not moved at all by the cruelty and danger in Aiwass's words. He just analyzed calmly: "That's what the old man should have done.
"He was the first to arrive, which means he is also from Avalon. Since we cannot exchange information with each other and the mission requires us to go to the Gallows Square, we should be able to realize that our current common goal is to "obtain weapons" from the hint of "prepare for battle" in the mission. Then, from the most effective way to obtain weapons, "black market transactions", we can associate it with the Pelican Bar that just appeared in the newspaper.
"One step further might be to realize that other people also need to get weapons through empathy, so they will also think of the 'black market' - and then judge that other people may also come to the Pelican Bar. So we can gather here. Compared with 'weapons', teammates are obviously more valuable. No matter if he is on the first or second floor, he will go to the Pelican Bar as soon as possible. And this is the only way."
"But the 'Bone Sculpture' did not come here."
"Yes. This means that he doesn't intend to cooperate with us... or he thinks that most of the people who will gather here have already abandoned the Twilight Path. Even if they come, they won't be able to find teammates."
"… In other words, Mr. Detective had already known that we would come here?"
Lulu couldn't help but whispered, "If Mr. Bone Sculptor doesn't come... are you planning to team up with the three of us and Mr. Knight?"
"In fact, in my plan, the three of us, including the Knight, should meet here. You are not included."
Sherlock said coldly: "It was unexpected that you appeared with the fox.
"Although I have nothing against the extraordinary people of the Path of Beauty, but if you appeared alone without the 'fox' by your side, you would definitely not think of gathering at the door of the Pelican Bar."
“… Ugh.”
Lulu let out a small cry.
The beautiful woman with a plump figure had a helpless look on her face like a young girl.
Because she knew that what Mr. Sherlock said was right.
"It's more than that," Aiwass suddenly said, "It's not just because he knows he won't meet his teammates here."
Little Sherlock looked over in surprise.
The boy spoke in a childish voice but with a mature and cold tone. He encouraged her with an interested look, "Tell me a little more about it?"
"You were very concerned about the 'bone carving' cane before. The Apostle said that the rules state that the only items that can be brought into the ceremony are extraordinary items that are 'made by one's own hands' - that is, his cane is not an ordinary cane, but a creation of the Twilight Path. However, this is his first advancement ceremony, which means that he has just embarked on the Twilight Path. I think his cane may be an extraordinary item made of human bones."
"To be precise, it is made from a completely stripped spine."
Little Sherlock raised his eyebrows and added accurately: "Female, 18 to 26 or 27 years old. She has not done heavy physical labor and there are no obvious signs of exercise. But she should often work or study at a desk. She also has a slight hunchback.
"He could be a student, or a painter or writer. His background is neither too bad nor too good, he should be a local of Glass Island. He is most likely a student who has just graduated and was bewitched. He has just set foot on the Path of Dusk, but he can create extraordinary items... This means that he often practiced bone carving or engraving techniques before entering the Path of Dusk, and he has a lot of experience in creating extraordinary items.
"That means his other identity is most likely one of the Path of Balance, Path of Beauty, and Path of Transcendence who is good at making extraordinary items."
At this point, he glanced at Lulu and said, "I am more inclined to the path of beauty. He may be a sculptor or a collector.
"Do you understand now, Fox? The allies of the Path of Beauty are unreliable. When they are weak, they usually appear normal, but their perceptions are too sharp and their nerves are too sensitive. This makes it easy for them to lose control and go crazy, and they will become unstable factors in the advancement ceremony.
"Moreover, a senior person who has mastered the path of beauty can easily become indifferent to life. They value art more than laws and morals. Otherwise, it would be difficult to observe the world with pure 'beauty', and it would be difficult to go deeper."
"Not really..."
Lulu subconsciously argued: "I also know a very kind art master..."
"I know," the newsboy nodded calmly, "I know him too. And you are an exception. Because in my opinion, you are not a standard 'believer in beauty'. You attach great importance to morality... This is good."
“… You just said this was dangerous.”
“It’s not a conflict.”
The boy was too lazy to explain further, and fell into his own thoughts again, muttering in a low voice: "When I get back, I have to go to the Supervisory Bureau to check the files of the missing persons recently. Maybe it can give me some inspiration...
"You are already an old man, why did you suddenly step into the twilight path? Is it because of a serious illness? Or a terminal disease? Did you feel that you didn't have much time left and suddenly felt a strong attachment to life? Did you hope to live on... Did you have no students to inherit, or did your descendants fail to live up to expectations and snatch the inheritance?"
“… If it’s the elderly artist from Glass Island,” the ignored Lulu mustered up her courage and suddenly spoke in a low voice, “It could be old Lars. He was diagnosed with a bone tumor this summer.”
"Old Lars?"
Sherlock was stunned for a moment, and it took him a long time to think: "Mr. Lars Graham? He didn't give it to the Queen..."
Having said this, he suddenly stopped talking.
The look he gave Lulu became deep and he said no more.
Aiwass also looked at her.
… Good guy.
Can this fully automatic carton opening machine also be used to open other people's boxes
Her Royal Highness actually has this function.
"… Mr. Knight hasn't arrived yet. Maybe he hasn't thought of this. After all, he seems to be a very careless person."
Sherlock changed the subject and his attitude changed significantly: "But it doesn't matter if it's just us. Remember to always follow me..."
Compared with prioritizing helping the knight and the fox, Sherlock's strategy suddenly changed to prioritizing helping the fox and Lulu who were already present.
Obviously, Sherlock must have guessed that Lulu was Princess Isabel... It was not difficult for him.
Fortunately, Sherlock is a loyal Queen.
Aiwas knew that his father was once a minister. He was framed for something and got into trouble. Queen Sofia had specially pardoned his father's crime and was kind to him.
Since then, Sherlock has been secretly serving the royal family. The Queen would specially invite Sherlock to participate in the investigation of some events. On the one hand, it is because of his reliability, and on the other hand, it is for confidentiality.
So compared to normal people, Sherlock knows more secrets of the royal family.
At this point in time, this matter is still a secret. Even Isabel herself may not know about it.
I see…
Aiwass responded.
Before he changed history and appeared in this advancement ceremony that he shouldn't have participated in, Princess Isabel's advancement ceremony was indeed won by Sherlock.
-at this time.
The three of them suddenly fell silent at the same time.
Because in their hearts, a clear bell suddenly rang.
No one around heard it, only the three of them. A few seconds later, another bell rang.
“… This is the death knell.”
The boy's expression suddenly became serious. "There's bad news... or good news. Two people have been eliminated. Your chances of passing the ceremony have increased."
"Two?"
At this point, Lulu subconsciously looked at Aiwass beside her: "Are they together too?"
The first thing she wanted to say was, are they also husband and wife
But these words were too embarrassing, so she swallowed them back before she could say them.
Aiwass asked the newsboy: "What does the death knell mean? To be exposed, or to die?"
"Death. If the identity is revealed, the remaining people will hear a sound of 'roaring laughter'."
Little Sherlock's speech speed more than doubled: "It's only the beginning of the hour, and there are still three hours to survive. The murderer has already started, and two people together can't resist them. In the ritual of 'safe' difficulty, we will only encounter one enemy, and it won't be too strong. It must be someone we can easily fight if we work together.
“Considering that the Bone Sculptor might act alone, the remaining few people, except for the little girl from the Path of Love and the drug dealer from the Path of Balance, will all have good combat capabilities.
"Unless they both happen to meet the murderer together..."
"—That means that the monster was able to kill two people in a short period of time."
Aiwass continued: "It was so fast that the other person didn't get away."
"It must have been a sneak attack."
Sherlock judged: "They didn't come to Legal Square, which means the enemy is not waiting here. It is possible that this is a safe zone and they will only encounter the enemy at the last moment."
"uncertain."
The young priest lowered his eyes slightly and added other possibilities: "It is also possible that the foreigners encountered the Stranglers. After all, they don't understand Avalon."
"Yes, you are right."
The boy nodded and looked around warily. "Anyway, be careful of shadows and corners... I'll follow you guys in a moment, in case someone sneaks up on me and drags me away without you noticing."
"Where are we going?" Lulu asked in a low voice.
"The Pelican Bar—now give me a reason to take you to the Pelican Bar."
Hearing Sherlock's whispered instructions, a warm and sunny smile immediately appeared on the young priest's face.
"You are very polite, young sir. May the candles light you."
Aiwass raised his voice slightly so that the people around him could hear clearly, "Thank you for the compliment on my wife. It's so hot, why don't I buy you a drink? What would you like to drink?"
“…Don’t give me any wine, fox.”
Little Sherlock lowered his voice and reminded, "I can only drink milk now... Alcohol will disrupt my intelligence and weaken my spells."
"How about milk? After all, you are still too young to drink."
Aiwass was quick to respond.
“… I know a bar.”
Little Sherlock's voice also returned to normal, and he said in a childish voice: "We call it the Pelican Bar!"
Hearing Sherlock's somewhat clumsy and impersonal voice, Aiwass's expression suddenly became a little subtle.
You don't have to act if you can't, Mr. Sherlock.
Your artificial voice reminds me of another famous detective who has a child's body but an adult's mind...
But at this moment, they heard another long death knell.
Aiwass's expression became solemn.
—The third person died.
It was only two minutes since the previous two sounds.
"Wait a minute," Little Sherlock's expression suddenly changed, and he no longer cared about his role, "Something is wrong! He died too quickly!"
Two people were not a big deal, they were probably ambushed together. The second person was caught and killed while trying to escape.
—But when there is clearly only one enemy, it is unreasonable that three people died one after another!
This is not a ritual of competitive killing. The nine people have descended to different places with different identities.
The difficulty of this ritual is clearly wrong!
—Is it because of the existence of Sherlock or the Bone Sculpture that the enemy’s strength is increased
Soon, Aiwass realized something else:
He had previously thought that the two dead were foreigners, but that was not necessarily the case if there were three.
The Cavaliers never came, maybe it wasn't because he didn't expect the Pelicans bar.
Instead, he went somewhere else and might have died on the way!
Where did they go
"We can't go to the Pelican Bar anymore. It's not necessarily safe there, and we won't be able to escape if we're blocked. The knight didn't come or is dead. We can only rely on the detective spell, but the first-level spell isn't strong enough."
Aiwass immediately changed his plan and skillfully took over Sherlock's command:
"—We have to take a detour and hide to see if anyone else continues to die. I know a secret passage here. Follow me."