Chapter 273
Haina Receives a Gryphon
“You’re saying this is Fairy Land?”
“Where in Fairy Land would so many humans live!”
Lily subconsciously turned her gaze to Eivass, whispering, “Is this… the worse possibility?”
“…It’s hard to say.”
Eivass shook his head, feeling that strange sensation in his heart grow clearer.
When he had walked along that woodland path just now, he’d had a peculiar experience—despite being full of caution, even to the point of being on high alert, he felt a leisurely sense of comfort.
To describe it, it was somewhat like the feeling of receiving aromatherapy. Or akin to walking alone in the woods in the quiet early morning when there was no work or other matters to attend to. His heart was incomparably peaceful, and it felt as if time itself had stood still.
Sherlock had clearly also felt that strange experience. That was why he understood Eivass’s meaning.
“If this is Fairy Land, then such an anomaly is also reasonable. They only need to deal with the fey.”
But if this wasn’t Fairy Land…
“…Then there are only two possibilities. Either this place has been encased in a large, perpetually active barrier by an extremely powerful Extraordinary, used to protect this village; or this place itself has an anomaly, and the strength of this anomaly is already sufficient to distort the sharp gaze of a Fourth Tier White Gryphon.”
Eivass said solemnly, “Either way… we must be prepared to encounter Fifth Tier power.”
And just then, they saw Haina waving in the distance.
“You’re here—”
She ran over excitedly.
But halfway through her run, she saw Sherlock beside Eivass, her smile gradually faded, and her steps slowed a little.
By the time she ran to Eivass, her speed had almost reached zero. She tilted her head in confusion, staring at the young Sherlock.
“…Is this Mr. Sherlock’s younger brother?”
“You’ve disappointed me, Haina. You’ve stared for so long that even a dog would have shed its fur, and then you open your mouth and ask, ‘Is this a rabbit?'”
The young Sherlock said coldly, “I hope you’ll use your brain a little before you speak from now on. If you don’t use your brain for too long, it will atrophy.”
It’s Mr. Sherlock!
Haina immediately confirmed Sherlock’s identity.
She was astonished, “How did you…”
…How did you get smaller?
But these words were too earth-shattering, and for a moment, she didn’t dare to speak them.
How could anyone possibly reverse aging?
“I know, right? What’s going on?”
Sherlock said expressionlessly, gazing at Eivass.
Eivass smiled playfully and waved his hand, “Don’t mind the details—you should cherish the present. Many things, once missed, are missed forever. This is a limited edition.”
“Well said.”
An old man’s voice of admiration came from the side, “Cherish the present… Haina, you should learn from your friend.”
The old man’s skin was as dark as charcoal, and his right eye’s pupil was a nearly transparent sky blue. His slightly cloudy pupils evoked the image of melted oil paint.
There was a deep scar on his face, stretching across half of it, dividing his left eye in two. His left eye had atrophied as a result, being a smaller circle than his right, and its pupil had also faded slightly.
From his waist hung an Elven Short Sword that had clearly endured the wear of time but was still well-preserved. However, he wore no armor, but rather a warm, black, stand-collared long overcoat.
“Grandfather William!”
Haina clearly recognized this Old Supervisor—if her guess was right, this should be the “only supervisor in the village who fishes every day” that Haina had mentioned to Eivass before.
Eivass gave the man a deep look, then turned and met Sherlock’s gaze.
Sherlock shook his head slightly, signaling them not to act rashly.
They both confirmed… this village indeed had a problem.
—Because Eivass and Sherlock both recognized him.
Although he looked older and had a few more scars… he was undoubtedly the Old Supervisor from the Ascension Ritual Eivass had just experienced!
At that time, Eivass’s grandfather was still a young man in his twenties or thirties. And this person had looked at least fifty or sixty back then—his short hair, bleached and fine from the roots, and the clear wrinkles on his dark, square face suggested someone who often wore a stern expression.
Even if he wasn’t a supervisor… with black-rimmed glasses, he would at least be a dean of students.
Now, his facial features looked much softer. The wrinkles on his face were more distinct and obvious, but his gaze was not so cloudy as to be unable to see clearly.
That was in 1839. And now it was 1898.
Nearly sixty years had passed.
Eivass was already close to his grandfather’s age.
An old man who was already around sixty back then, sixty years later, had become… less than seventy?
The old man also scrutinized Eivass for a while.
He gradually showed a friendly smile and extended his hand to Eivass, “Young man… young and promising.”
Eivass extended his hand and shook it powerfully. He felt the fiery warmth in his palm and a sense of strength completely unlike that of an old man.
“May I ask, what is your name?” the Old Supervisor asked.
“Eivass Moriarty.”
Eivass smiled reservedly, saying calmly, “The soon-to-be Minister of Affairs of Avalon.”
“…Minister Moriarty!”
The Old Supervisor was clearly quite surprised, then a smile appeared on his face, “It’s an honor!
Our small village has never had a minister visit. Even Minister Swan only made a brief stop in Windpipe Town before leaving… May I reveal your identity?”
But he didn’t doubt Eivass’s identity—impersonating a minister in Avalon was a death penalty. Moreover, he had heard the surname Moriarty… it belonged to the founding families.
As a descendant of a founding family, it was not impossible to attain the position of minister at such a young age.
“Of course, you may, sir.”
Eivass nodded reservedly, his expression gentle yet proud, fitting the stereotype of an excellent young person educated by a founding family, “This is not a secret—regarding my identity, the Glass Steps Herald will publish it in less than a month.
I’ve merely come to visit my friend Haina. There’s nothing to hide about that, especially since she is now the disciple of that ‘Meg’.”
“—Meg!”
The old man’s eyes widened in shock, “Is it that…”
“That Grand Arbitrator, Grandfather William.”
Haina reminded him from the side.
She smiled proudly, clearly enjoying Eivass’s flattery.
Although she didn’t know why Eivass would suddenly reveal such information upon meeting him, she had been holding it in for a long time. She was just waiting for an opportunity to show off!
“Haina, your Gryphon has arrived.”
Eivass glanced at Haina, changed the subject, and patted the young Gryphon that was affectionately nuzzling him, “Her name is Liz, she’s a fifteen-year-old child. Take good care of her.”
“…Liz!”
Haina was so happy she almost screamed!
My Gryphon, it’s my Gryphon!
—She’s finally here! She’s finally here!
And she’s a noble White-Feathered Gryphon!
Haina immediately forgot everything else—she was so moved she was on the verge of tears.
She carefully leaned closer, knelt gently on the ground, and stroked Liz’s feathers. Liz also leaned in to sniff Haina’s scent, then sneezed and contentedly rubbed her neck against Haina’s.
“Hello Liz, hello… my good child…”
Haina said softly, full of emotion, and hugged the Gryphon, “My name is Haina. Haina Dane, your partner you can always trust.”
She had never known she could make such a gentle sound, “Are you hungry? Did you eat on the way? Shall I prepare some fresh meat for you? Although beef might be hard to find, there should be fresh wild boar meat in the village now…”
Eivass stood with his hands behind his back, coughed lightly, but still didn’t interrupt Haina’s rapture and excitement.
The Old Supervisor also came closer and spoke in a low voice to Eivass, “I might have mistaken you for someone else just now… Minister, you look very much like an old friend of mine. By the way, this child…”
“—I am Arthur.”
Sherlock opened his mouth, unhesitatingly using his father’s name as a pseudonym.
Eivass smiled slightly upon hearing this and added with a touch of playful malice, “His name is Arthur Conan Doyle… the apprentice and assistant of the renowned detective Sherlock.
Mr. Sherlock is rather busy, so he has entrusted his assistant to help us with the investigation.”
“…Investigation?”
The Old Supervisor looked somewhat doubtful, “Has something happened?”
“It’s an old matter from over a decade ago,”
Eivass bowed slightly and replied earnestly, “I believe you may not have mistaken me… because I am an orphan adopted by the Moriarty Family.
And my real surname is Alexander. Eivass Alexander—and my grandfather’s name was Jacob Alexander. He spent the last few years of his life living here.
I have come regarding his death.”
My sleep has finally recovered to seven and a half hours… I’m back to normal.
Today is the last day for double votes, remember to vote, brothers!
