The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 113

Chapter 114
Worthy of Moriarty
Eivass retorted without politeness, “So you’ve colluded with the Star Antimony people and decided to switch masters?”
However, facing his words, neither of them felt the slightest bit of offense.
Facing two individuals far stronger than themselves, yet remaining so composed, without a trace of fear or hesitation, this was the hallmark of a pure Transcendent.
“It seems your investigation has progressed quite quickly.”
Lawyer York sighed, feeling fortunate, “Fortunately, I directly recruited you.”
But Vice President Boka denied it, “That’s not it. We are by no means the sharp blade in the hands of the Star Antimony people.”
“But I heard that the leader of the Noble Red is a pure-blooded giant. From the former dynasty of Avalon.”
Eivass said leisurely.
“Do I look like a giant to you?”
Upon hearing this, a contemptuous sneer appeared on the lips of the stern middle-aged man. “When has there ever been an eternal ‘leader’ in a group of Transcendent beings? Everyone considers themselves the king of the infinite universe—don’t you think so too? When have you ever taken the two of us to heart?”
“So the Lloyd Society and the Noble Red are not the same organization?”
Eivass retorted.
Lawyer York explained, “It’s just that some high-level members overlap. Within the Lloyd Society, of course, not everyone is a Transcendent… otherwise, we would have been discovered by the Inspection Department long ago.”
Vice President Boka continued, his deep voice ringing with power, “Actually, it’s because Transcendent beings are a minority everywhere. Because most people lack that kind of will and resolve.
“None of the Nine Great Paths are paths for mortals. The very essence of a transcendent being’s life is the will to transcend the mundane—the charge of the foolish is laughable, the resentment of the lazy is meaningless. Only when one possesses the decision to fight the larger with the smaller and the confidence to overcome the strong with the weak can one step onto the Path of Transcendence.”
The moment Eivass heard this, he deduced that among the three high-level members of the Lloyd Society—”Mr. Boka,” “Mr. Forbes,” and “Madam Gray Green”—that Lawyer York had inquired about downstairs, only Boka likely belonged to the Noble Red. Perhaps Prince Lloyd as well.
This meant that the internal structure of the Lloyd Society was divided. And the Noble Red Society was also so.
They were not an impenetrable monolith!
Upon realizing this, Eivass’s spirits immediately soared.
Evidence of York Hermes’ collusion with the Noble Red Society would be obtainable only when he was alone. But it seemed it was no longer necessary.
If Eivass could directly infiltrate the Lloyd Society or even the Noble Red Society, he could bring out the intelligence himself!
Then, York’s life could be left to Sherlock for his personal revenge. This also possessed a sense of ritual that Eivass favored.
“I have a question, Lawyer York, Mr. Boka,” Eivass began, “So, is President Lloyd also a member of the Noble Red? And he’s not a giant, right?”
York looked at Vice President Boka with some hesitation, while Boka paused before stating directly, “That’s not the case. He is a half-giant. Therefore, he is a high-level member of the Noble Red Society.”
“Are you saying that the Lloyd family has produced a half-giant?”
“You may have misunderstood, Eivass,” Lawyer York explained, “President Lloyd’s situation is like yours; he is merely an adopted son.
“The Lloyd family has a peculiar rule: they do not propagate through bloodlines. Their own children must be given to others, changing their surnames; only the most outstanding among the adopted children can inherit the Lloyd surname and the Lloyd Society.
“This is to cultivate the desire in children to advance by any means necessary. The total wealth of the Lloyd Society is close to one-tenth of Avalon’s. If there is a chance to inherit such astounding wealth, even a tiny part of it. Passed down through generations, there will always be some who are lazy or gentle.
“Because of this, the President of the Lloyd Society in each generation comes from a commoner, or even a poverty-stricken background. Precisely because they have endured poverty and hunger, they can truly awaken in the face of such immense wealth and power… like a snake, constantly shedding and growing.”
“This in itself is a ritual.”
Vice President Boka replied concisely, “This is the ‘Serpent’s Offspring’ ritual, extracting the transcendent potential of others to concentrate it on one person. The Lloyd Society President of this generation is a half-giant. It is from this generation that we began to have ties with the Noble Red Society—neither Mr. Boka nor I were Transcendent beings cultivated by the Noble Red.”
Raising insects like a game of ‘gū’. It was indeed something that heartless merchants would do, Eivass mused inwardly.
“So,” he sighed, leaning back and asking softly, “What do you want me to do?”
Vice President Boka and Lawyer York exchanged glances, and Boka said, “Rest assured, Mr. Eivass. It’s not dangerous, nor is it cruel. Rather, it’s something you’re already doing.”
“Dating Isabel?” Eivass said testily.
“No, please forget about Princess Isabel. There was too much joking involved.”
Vice President Boka said in a low voice, “You should continue to investigate the Noble Red Society. If you need help, we can also provide you with some limited information.
“Around next week, or at the latest the week after, your dormitory at the Royal Law University will be attacked by a large number of Demon Scholars. I will specifically notify you before you are attacked.
“Just like the ones who attacked you with Deformed beings before, and the ones who used you to summon demons. They are not from our Lloyd Society. Among those you killed, only that half-elf bartender was one of ours, and the Pelican Bar was our establishment.
“You are now a hero of Avalon, and you have also incurred the enmity of the societies. We can take this opportunity to cultivate your reputation, giving you a chance to rise higher. People believe that the Lloyd Society has some connection with the Noble Red Society, so no one will know that a hero famous for fighting Demon Scholars is actually a member of the Lloyd Society. This way, even if your Transcendent Path’s adaptability is exposed, the Royal Family will protect you.
“Therefore, this matter requires your personal agreement. We will cultivate your reputation, and when we defeat the other faction of the Noble Red and transform the society into our own force, you will then step forward to support the Lloyd Society, declaring that investigations have shown we have no connection to the Noble Red. Until then, you only need to act as our Spokesperson, speaking for us—much like Prince Lloyd.
“—What you need to do is simple: don’t be too ruthless. Let those who attack you escape after they are defeated. Those who attacked you at the awards ceremony were Demon Scholars aligned with the Star Antimony Kingdom. The next batch will be from our Lloyd Society. However, just in case, I will not notify them to show mercy, to prevent them from being captured and exposing you.
“But I will tell you their composition and plans in advance, and you should be able to devise countermeasures, right? The next time, you can be ruthless.”
Hearing this, Eivass’s fingers tapping on the wheelchair’s armrest suddenly paused.
His eyes widened slightly. He suddenly understood.
Isabel was merely a cover. It was an excuse for them to test Eivass’s motives and stance.
The real reason they were interested in Eivass was because he had recently become a “hero” by fighting demons!
The master and disciple of Demon Scholars who tricked Eivass to be sacrificed, the Pelican Bar destroyed by Eivass’s surprise attack, the Sweater Brotherhood discovered by Sherlock, the Trade Minister who smuggled a batch of Alchemical Bombs, the Deformed beings who openly attacked Eivass…
Eivass originally thought these were all the same group. He didn’t expect there to be two, or even three different factions!
Those Lloyd Society members who knew nothing, merely controlled the Strangler Gang and participated in smuggling; those native merchant Transcendent beings within the Lloyd Society who colluded with the Noble Red Society in secret, yet did not obey that pure-blooded giant; and those ordinary Noble Red members from outside Glass Island, incited and controlled by the Star Antimony people.
So that’s why Lawyer York was so eager, and why they had to recruit him immediately… and they couldn’t use force.
—To put it bluntly, they wanted to play a game of wolves preying on wolves.
These Transcendent beings who joined both the Lloyd Society and the Noble Red Society were likely a minority, thus they were in opposition to both sides. Because of this, their actions would be monitored by both factions simultaneously.
Therefore, they needed their own Spokesperson who could speak for the Lloyd Society. In reality, this Spokesperson would not be on the side of the Lloyd Society, but only on the side of their small group.
To achieve this goal, they could arrange for people to be sacrificed as stepping stones for Eivass.
Very tempting benefits. If Eivass agreed to cooperate, he would truly become a big star—even becoming a Prince wouldn’t be difficult.
He also suddenly understood how Prince Lloyd had managed it back then…
—Finding actors to put on a play, right?
But conversely, Eivass could also take the benefits and then decisively betray them at any time. They couldn’t force Eivass into submission because the initiative was with him. Thus, Lawyer York’s strategy was to lure him in with the disappearance of Professor Moriarty and the inheritance of the Moriarty Family’s assets, to win him over and befriend him.
It was indeed a plan that suited his personality.
However, Eivass’s mind conceived a darker plan.
…His position was too critical.
If handled well, it seemed he could benefit from all four sides: accept the sacrifices offered by the other party; make them fight and attack each other internally; help Sherlock get revenge; and simultaneously dismantle these two organizations to detonate the bomb prematurely, preventing Avalon from collapsing in the disaster a year later.
He narrowed his eyes, sitting in his wheelchair.
“I agree.”
Eivass said slowly and without reservation, “To openly join the Lloyd Society, and to secretly join the Noble Red Society without any rituals.
“Then let me think carefully about how to proceed next…”
Seeing this, Lawyer York was very pleased and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked at Eivass, as if seeing the Professor Moriarty of yesteryear.
“We lost one Moriarty, and gained a younger, smarter Moriarty!”
Lawyer York bowed his head and leaned in, fawning enthusiastically, “Since Eivass has joined the Lloyd Society, there’s no harm in being upfront—our Lloyd Society has also relied on your father’s spider-silk-like, precise, and invisible wisdom to guide us in the rational use of information.
“Although you have just joined, I believe with the introduction from myself and Vice President Boka, you will easily gain access to the higher levels.
“The future development of the Lloyd Society will depend on you young people!”
“Yes.”
Eivass replied with a smile, hinting at something, “I must work hard.”
Update complete!